New research findings are linking obstructive sleep apnoea and the development of dementia.
Professor Sharon Naismith of the University of Sydney, Australia, and her team explain that obstructive sleep apnoea reduces blood oxygen levels. This drop could be linked to a shrinking of the temporal lobes of the brain, and a decline in memory, the team says.
They recruited 83 adults aged 51 to 88 years of age, with concerns over their memory or mood. Following polysomnography measurements at a sleep clinic, those with low blood oxygen levels while asleep tended to have reduced thickness in the left and right temporal lobes of the brain.
The team say these are regions known to be important in memory and affected in dementia.
This group of patients, with signs of obstructive sleep apnoea, also tended to have increased thickness in other brain regions which could be signs of swelling and inflammation due to lower levels of oxygen.
Details are published today (5 July) in the European Respiratory Journal. Professor Naismith says the study provides evidence that screening and treating older people for obstructive sleep apnoea, could help prevent dementia.
"We wanted to look specifically at obstructive sleep apnoea and its effects on the brain and cognitive abilities," she said.
"There is no cure for dementia so early intervention is key. On the other hand, we do have an effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea. Measures such as stopping smoking and losing weight can reduce the risk of developing the condition.
"This research shows that diagnosing and treating obstructive sleep apnoea, could be an opportunity to prevent cognitive decline before it’s too late."
Cross, N. E. et al. Structural brain correlates of obstructive sleep apnoea in older adults at risk for dementia. European Respiratory Journal 5 July 2018 doi: 10.1183/13993003.00740-2018
http://erj.ersjournals.com/lookup/doi/10.1183/13993003.00740-2018
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