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A sleep disorder that causes shallow or interrupted repeated breathing may be badociated with changes in brain structure that are also observed during the early stages of dementia
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Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), common in the elderly, is a condition where the walls of the throat relax and contract during sleep, stopping breathing, and is known to reduce oxygen levels in the blood. It has also been linked to heart disease, stroke and cancer.
The new study suggested that the decline in oxygen may be related to a narrowing of the temporal lobes of the brain and a corresponding decline in memory. 50% of the risk of dementia is due to modifiable factors like depression, high blood pressure, obesity and smoking. In recent years, researchers have recognized that various sleep disturbances are also risk factors for dementia, "says Sharon Naismith. "We wanted to specifically look at obstructive sleep apnea and its effects on the brain and cognitive abilities," he adds.
In the study, published in European Respiratory Journal, the researchers badyzed data from nearly 100 participants aged 51 to 88, who had consulted with physicians concerned about their memory or mood, but who had no diagnosis of OSA.
Results showed that patients Blood oxygen levels during sleep tended to have a reduced thickness in the left and right temporal lobes of the brain – regions known to be important in memory and dementia affected.
In addition, the team found that this alteration in the brain was related to the lower ability of participants to learn new information.
"There is no cure for dementia, so early intervention is the key.On the other hand, we have effective treatment for the AOS." This research shows that the diagnosis and treatment of OSA could be an opportunity to prevent cognitive decline before it is too late, "added Naismith
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