Symptoms of sleep apnea associated with cognitive impairment and memory issues
According to a preliminary study released on March 3, 2024, people who experience sleep apnea may be more likely to also have memory or thinking problems. The findings will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 76th Annual Meeting in April 2024.
Sleep apnea, a sleep disorder, is when people stop and restart breathing repeatedly during sleep which can lower oxygen levels in the blood. Symptoms, known as apnea, include snorting, gasping, breathing pauses, loud snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, and difficulty concentrating. People with the disorder may also experience morning headaches or have trouble focusing on tasks. If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to serious health complications such as hypertension, heart disease, stroke, and cognitive impairment.
“Sleep apnea is a common disorder that is often underdiagnosed, yet treatments are available,” said study author Dominique Low, MD, MPH, of Boston Medical Center in Massachusetts, and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. “Our study found that participants who had sleep apnea symptoms had greater odds of having memory or thinking problems.”
For the study, researchers included 4,257 participants who completed a questionnaire on sleep quality, memory, and thinking. For sleep, participants were asked about snorting, gasping or breathing pauses in their sleep. For memory and thinking, participants were asked questions related to difficulty remembering, periods of confusion, difficulty concentrating or problems with decision-making.
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