People Suffering From Sleep Apnea Symptoms Are at Greater Risk of Having Memory, Thinking Problems [Study]

Individuals who experience sleep apnea symptoms are likely to have thinking or memory problems. However, despite the positive association between the two conditions, it's unclear if sleep apnea causes cognitive decline.

Sleep Apnea Symptoms Linked to Memory Problem

A new study at the American Academy of Neurology's 76th Annual Meeting saw an association between sleep apnea and memory problems. The study involved 4,257 individuals who completed a survey about their sleep quality and breathing pauses during their sleep. The participants also answered questions about forgetfulness, disorientation, difficulty focusing, or making decisions to gauge their memory and thinking abilities.

Of the participants, 1,079 individuals reported experiencing sleep apnea symptoms. Compared to 628 individuals, or 20% of those without sleep apnea symptoms, 357 persons, or 33% of those with symptoms, reported memory or cognitive issues.

Researchers discovered that individuals with sleep apnea symptoms were approximately 50% more likely also to report having memory or thinking problems than those without sleep apnea symptoms, even after controlling for other variables like age, race, gender, and education.

"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 an American Academy of Neurology member. "Our study found participants who had sleep apnea symptoms had greater odds of having memory or thinking problems."

He added that these results emphasize the value of sleep apnea screening at an early age. Treatments such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines are widely accessible and practical.

A person's quality of life may be enhanced by getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, exercising frequently, interacting with others, and receiving cognitive stimulation. These factors may ultimately lower the likelihood of thinking and memory issues.

However, the study had some limitations, and the researchers acknowledged it. The survey provided the data for the study, and participants self-reported their symptoms rather than having them evaluated by medical specialists. Further research is required to track people's symptoms of sleep apnea, memory, and thinking over time.

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What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a disorder that makes breathing difficult when you're asleep. The word "apnea" derives from the Greek meaning "breathless." Either your airway becomes blocked (obstructive sleep apnea), or your brain miscontrols the breathing process (central apnea), and this occurs.

It is a potentially dangerous sleep ailment. You may suffer from sleep apnea if you have loud snoring and feel exhausted in the morning.

The symptoms of central and obstructive sleep apnea sometimes overlap, making diagnosing one over the other challenging. The following are the most typical signs of both conditions.

Loud snoring.
Sleep-related episodes where you cease breathing would be reported by someone else.
Breathing hard while you're asleep.
Waking up with a parched mouth.
Headache in the morning.
Sleep disturbances are sometimes referred to as insomnia.
Hypersomnia, or excessive daytime sleepiness.
Having trouble focusing when awake.
Irritability.

While not everyone has sleep apnea snores, loud snoring can indicate a potentially dangerous issue. If you experience any of the sleep apnea symptoms, consult your physician. It's recommended to check with a healthcare practitioner if you have any sleep issues that cause you to feel drowsy, exhausted, or agitated.