Study links obstructive sleep apnea to increased dementia risk in women

A standard but underdiagnosed sleep problem contributes to the event of dementia amongst adults -; significantly ladies, a Michigan Medication research suggests. 

Investigators uncovered this by inspecting survey and cognitive screening knowledge from greater than 18,500 adults to find out the potential impact of recognized or suspected obstructive sleep apnea on the danger for dementia. 

Obstructive sleep apnea is a continual sleep problem characterised by episodes disrupted or restricted respiration throughout sleep. 

For all adults age 50 and older, having recognized obstructive sleep apnea or its signs -; as folks typically have no idea they’ve the issue -; was related to a better probability of getting indicators or a prognosis of dementia in coming years.

Whereas the general distinction in these dementia diagnoses by no means rose above 5%, the affiliation remained statistically important even after researchers accounted for a lot of different components that may have an effect on dementia threat, corresponding to race and training.

At all ages stage, ladies with recognized or suspected sleep apnea had been extra possible than males to be identified with dementia. 

The truth is, the speed of dementia prognosis decreased among the many males and grew bigger for the ladies as they aged.

The outcomes are revealed in SLEEP Advances.

“Our findings supply new perception into the function of a treatable sleep problem on long-term cognitive well being on the inhabitants stage for each men and women,” mentioned first writer Tiffany J. Braley, M.D., M.S., neurologist, director of the A number of Sclerosis/Neuroimmunology Division and co-founder of the Multidisciplinary MS Fatigue and Sleep Clinic at College of Michigan Well being. 

Causes for the sex-specific variations in dementia prognosis by sleep apnea standing, researchers say, aren’t but recognized. Nevertheless, they pose a number of potential explanations.

Ladies with reasonable sleep apnea might have a higher threat of heart problems and usually tend to have insomnia, each of which might negatively impression cognitive operate. 

Estrogen begins to say no as ladies transition to menopause, which might impression their brains. Throughout that point, they’re extra susceptible to reminiscence, sleep and temper adjustments that will result in cognitive decline. Sleep apnea will increase considerably post-menopause but stays underdiagnosed. We want extra epidemiologic research to raised perceive how sleep problems in ladies impression their cognitive well being.” 

Galit Levi Dunietz, Ph.D., M.P.H., co-author, affiliate professor within the College of Michigan Division of Neurology and Division of Sleep Medication

Six million Individuals have been formally identified with sleep apnea, but the dysfunction is believed to have an effect on nearer to 30 million folks.

In a 2024 report, a Lancet Fee recognized a number of modifiable threat components that collectively account for round 40% of worldwide dementia. 

Whereas sleep was not included as an official threat issue, the fee famous that sleep apnea “is likely to be related to dementia” and to think about including screening questions on dementia for folks with the sleep problem. 

Different modifiable threat components for dementia embody heart problems and psychological well being issues, each of which can be exacerbated by untreated sleep apnea. 

“These potential harms attributable to sleep apnea, lots of which threaten cognitive efficiency and decline, spotlight the significance of early prognosis and therapy,” Braley mentioned.

“Obstructive sleep apnea and resultant sleep deprivation and fragmentation are additionally related to inflammatory adjustments within the mind that will contribute to cognitive impairment.” 

The Michigan Medication research used current knowledge from the Well being and Retirement Examine, an ongoing survey that’s consultant of Individuals aged 50 and older.

“This research design can’t totally show that sleep apnea causes dementia -; that will possible require a randomized trial, over a few years, to match results of sleep apnea therapy to the consequences of no therapy,” mentioned co-author Ronald D. Chervin, M.D., M.S., director of the Division of Sleep Medication within the Division of Neurology at U-M Well being.

“As it could be a very long time if ever till such a trial happens, backward-looking analyses corresponding to ours, inside giant databases, could also be among the many most informative for years to come back. Within the meantime, the outcomes present new proof that clinicians and sufferers, when making choices about testing for sleep apnea and treating it, ought to think about the chance that untreated sleep apnea causes or exacerbates dementia.”