Treatment for sleep apnea may improve mental function in Alzheimers
Alzheimer’s patients who also have obstructive sleep apnea may experience improved mental function from treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), according to a recent study from University of California San Diego.
Previous studies have suggested that more severe dementia is associated with more severe obstructive sleep apnea. And in fact, Alzheimer’s patients have a high incidence of obstructive sleep apnea. Previous studies have found that approximately 70% to 80% of Alzheimer’s patients experience at least five episodes of apnea or hypopnea per hour and 40% to 50% have 20 or more episodes per hour.
Sleep apnea occurs when a person’s breathing repeatedly stops and starts for short periods of time during sleep. This abnormal breathing pattern only occurs during sleep, therefore, the person with the disorder may be the last to know he or she has a problem.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is usually associated with loud snoring (though not everyone who snores has this disorder). Risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea include being male, overweight, and over the age of forty. This condition occurs two to three times more often in older adults and is twice as common in men as in women. However, sleep apnea can affect anyone at any age, even children.
If you think you might have sleep apnea, ask your health care provider for help.
Read more about Obstructive Sleep Apnea from Bay Area Medical Information
via Ancoli-Israel S, et al “Cognitive effects of treating obstructive sleep apnea in Alzheimer’s disease: a randomized controlled study” J Am Geriatr Soc. 2008; 56: 2076-2081.
via MedPage Today, December 4, 2008
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