Why Sleep Apnea Can Cause Memory Problems Earlier in Life

Sleep apnea — a sleep disorder in which your breathing is briefly and repeatedly interrupted during sleep — may be doing more than affecting the quality of your sleep and making you tired.

A recent study found a long-suspected connection between sleep apnea and Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers found damage in the brain starts in the same place and spreads the same way in both Alzheimer’s disease and in sleep apnea.

The American Sleep Apnea Association reports more than 25 million Americans have sleep apnea and 1 billion have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) worldwide. The word apnea refers to a breathing pause that lasts at least 10 seconds. This can occur in those who snore, have generalized fatigue or consistently-poor quality of sleep.

“Today, we are recognizing that sleep disorders beyond sleep apnea also play an important role in neurodegeneration, like reduced sleep and circadian rhythm disruption,” says sleep medicine specialist Reena Mehra, MD.

Read on to find out more about the connection between sleep apnea and cognitive decline.

Why does sleep apnea cause cognitive decline?

Mild cognitive impairment is when your memory is affected to the point that it’s noticeable to others, but not enough to affect your daily life. People with mild cognitive decline may show some forgetfulness or amnesia of recent events. They often need to write notes to remind themselves to do things that they would otherwise forget.

The connection between sleep apnea and cognitive decline has long been suspected. But researchers recently confirmed that those who had sleep-disordered breathing had an earlier onset of mild cognitive impairment compared with people who didn’t suffer from OSA.

What’s more, other studies have shown those with sleep apnea were diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment an average of 10 years earlier than people without sleep breathing problems. And numerous other studies have made the connection between sleep apnea and dementia.

But there is hope. Researchers also found that people who treated their sleep breathing problems with a continuous positive airway pressure machine, or CPAP, were diagnosed with memory and thinking problems about 10 years later than people whose problems were not treated.

“CPAP is the treatment of choice for sleep apnea,” Dr. Mehra says. With this treatment, you wear a face or nasal mask while you sleep. The mask is connected to a pump and provides a flow of air into your nasal passages to keep your airways open.

How do I know if I have sleep apnea or another sleep disorder?

We’ve all known someone who snores — perhaps your partner or a close relative. This is just one thing to look out for. “People who are taking care of older individuals or those with sleep issues should be aware of sleep apnea,” she says.

If you live with or care for someone who has trouble sleeping, ask yourself the following questions to figure out whether screening for sleep apnea is needed:

• Has your spouse mentioned that you snore at night?
• Are you or your family member having difficulty sleeping?
• Are you or your family member tired during the day?
• Is your lack of sleep affecting your daily routine?

If you or your loved one identifies with one or more of those questions, talk with your physician about whether screening for sleep apnea is appropriate.