Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSleep Apnea Brain DamageDiagnosisTreatmentPreventionFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Sleep Apnea Brain Damage
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Frequently Asked Questions
Sleep apnea is a common medical condition that causes breathing interruptions, called “apnea events,” during sleep. The most common type isobstructive sleep apnea(OSA), which happens when something partially or completely blocks the upper airway during sleep.About 22 million Americans have sleep apnea.
Untreated sleep apnea can lead to serious health complications, such as stroke, heart disease, heart failure, dementia, and diabetes.It can also cause brain damage and memory loss due to a lack of oxygen to the brain during sleep. With proper treatment, sleep apnea-related brain damage is reversible.
This article will discuss how sleep apnea and brain damage are connected and the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of sleep apnea.
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Sleep Apnea and Brain Damage
Sleep apnea is associated with an increased risk of brain damage. Over time, this damage can lead to impairments in cognitive and emotional functioning, leading to problems with mood, memory, and more.
Research suggests that untreated OSA can affect the structures in the brain (such as thehippocampusandfrontal cortex) that are associated with memory, mood,executive functioning(high-level thinking skills), and attention. It can also reduce the amount of gray matter—the tissue responsible for much of the brain’s ability to process information.
Researchers have identified several possible contributing factors to sleep apnea-related brain damage, including:
Research on Sleep Apnea and Brain DamageWhile many earlier studies focused on OSA and gray-matter volume, one 2014 study inSleeprevealed that untreated severe OSA was also associated with the breakdown of white matter in the brain.White matter is sometimes known as the “subway of the brain” due to its role in sending messages quickly between the brain and the rest of the body.
Research on Sleep Apnea and Brain Damage
While many earlier studies focused on OSA and gray-matter volume, one 2014 study inSleeprevealed that untreated severe OSA was also associated with the breakdown of white matter in the brain.White matter is sometimes known as the “subway of the brain” due to its role in sending messages quickly between the brain and the rest of the body.
The most common signs and symptoms of sleep apnea include:
If you suspect you might have OSA, talk to your healthcare provider about getting a referral to a sleep specialist. Sleep apnea can only be definitively diagnosed with asleep study, also known as an overnightpolysomnogram.
During a sleep study, a sleep specialist will record information about your eye and leg movements, brain activity, breathing rate, and heart rate while you sleep. This data can determine yourapnea-hypopnea index(AHI), which is the number of breathing interruptions you experience in an hour.You can be diagnosed with mild, moderate, or severe sleep apnea.
What Is an Overnight Sleep Study (Polysomnogram)?
The first choice of treatment for sleep apnea is positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy, which involves placing a mask over your nose or nose and mouth while you sleep. Usually, this is done with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device, which blows pressurized air into your lungs to keep your airways open during sleep.
CPAP therapyhas been shown to help in the partial or complete reversal of neurocognitive impairments in people with OSA. Here are some findings about the role of CPAP devices in treating sleep apnea-related brain damage:
Sleep Apnea and Alzheimer’s DiseaseWithout CPAP therapy, sleep apnea can potentially contribute to serious neurological conditions. Untreated sleep apnea is associated with a higher risk of developingAlzheimer’s disease. In fact, one 2020 study found that sleep apnea-related sleep damage started in the same place and spread in the same way as Alzheimer’s disease.
Sleep Apnea and Alzheimer’s Disease
Without CPAP therapy, sleep apnea can potentially contribute to serious neurological conditions. Untreated sleep apnea is associated with a higher risk of developingAlzheimer’s disease. In fact, one 2020 study found that sleep apnea-related sleep damage started in the same place and spread in the same way as Alzheimer’s disease.
While anyone can get sleep apnea, there are certain risk factors for developing OSA, including:
Here are some of the preventive measures you can take to reduce your overall risk of developing OSA:
Summary
Sleep apnea is a common medical condition that causes intermittent pauses in breathing during sleep. Untreated sleep apnea can cause serious health complications, including brain damage and memory loss.
Untreated OSA is associated with cognitive impairments and problems with mood, memory, and alertness. Researchers believe that sleep apnea may cause brain damage due to the long-term effects of chronicsleep deprivation, as well as oxygen deficiency and the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier.
Sleep apnea-related brain damage can be partially or completely reversed in many cases with positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy, usually with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device.
A Word From Verywell
Frequently Asked QuestionsUntreated sleep apnea can lead to serious and potentially fatal health complications. These may include heart failure, heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and certain cancers. People with sleep apnea often experience excessive daytime sleepiness, which can increase their risk of being involved in fatal car crashes and other accidents.Sleep apnea is a chronic condition, so there is no single cure. However, sleep apnea can be effectively managed and treated. The first choice of treatment for sleep apnea is positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy, usually with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device.
Untreated sleep apnea can lead to serious and potentially fatal health complications. These may include heart failure, heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and certain cancers. People with sleep apnea often experience excessive daytime sleepiness, which can increase their risk of being involved in fatal car crashes and other accidents.
Sleep apnea is a chronic condition, so there is no single cure. However, sleep apnea can be effectively managed and treated. The first choice of treatment for sleep apnea is positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy, usually with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device.
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15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Sleep apnea.American Sleep Apnea Association.Sleep apnea information for clinicians.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Sleep apnea information page.American Academy of Sleep Medicine.Treating sleep apnea reverses brain damage.Pollicina I, Maniaci A, Lechien JR, et al.Neurocognitive performance improvement after obstructive sleep apnea treatment: State of the art.Behav Sci (Basel). 2021;11(12):180. doi:10.3390/bs11120180American Sleep Apnea Association.The importance of sleep and understanding sleep stages.Palomares JA, Tummala S, Wang DJ, et. al.Water exchange across the blood-brain barrier in obstructive sleep apnea: an MRI diffusion-weighted pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling study.J Neuroimaging. 2015;25(6):900-5. doi:10.1111/jon.12288Castronovo V, Scifo P, Castellano A, et al.White matter integrity in obstructive sleep apnea before and after treatment.Sleep. 2014;37(9):1465-1475. doi:10.5665/sleep.3994National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Sleep apnea.MedlinePlus.Sleep study.Sleep Foundation.How does a sleep study work?Harvard Medical School Division of Sleep Medicine.Understanding PAP.Owen JE, Benediktsdottir B, Cook E, Olafsson I, Gislason T, Robinson SR.Alzheimer’s disease neuropathology in the hippocampus and brainstem of people with obstructive sleep apnea.Sleep.2020;44(3). doi:10.1093/sleep/zsaa195Harvard Medical School Division of Sleep Medicine.Risk factors.Harvard Medical School Division of Sleep Medicine.Nonsurgical treatments.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Sleep apnea.American Sleep Apnea Association.Sleep apnea information for clinicians.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Sleep apnea information page.American Academy of Sleep Medicine.Treating sleep apnea reverses brain damage.Pollicina I, Maniaci A, Lechien JR, et al.Neurocognitive performance improvement after obstructive sleep apnea treatment: State of the art.Behav Sci (Basel). 2021;11(12):180. doi:10.3390/bs11120180American Sleep Apnea Association.The importance of sleep and understanding sleep stages.Palomares JA, Tummala S, Wang DJ, et. al.Water exchange across the blood-brain barrier in obstructive sleep apnea: an MRI diffusion-weighted pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling study.J Neuroimaging. 2015;25(6):900-5. doi:10.1111/jon.12288Castronovo V, Scifo P, Castellano A, et al.White matter integrity in obstructive sleep apnea before and after treatment.Sleep. 2014;37(9):1465-1475. doi:10.5665/sleep.3994National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Sleep apnea.MedlinePlus.Sleep study.Sleep Foundation.How does a sleep study work?Harvard Medical School Division of Sleep Medicine.Understanding PAP.Owen JE, Benediktsdottir B, Cook E, Olafsson I, Gislason T, Robinson SR.Alzheimer’s disease neuropathology in the hippocampus and brainstem of people with obstructive sleep apnea.Sleep.2020;44(3). doi:10.1093/sleep/zsaa195Harvard Medical School Division of Sleep Medicine.Risk factors.Harvard Medical School Division of Sleep Medicine.Nonsurgical treatments.
MedlinePlus.Sleep apnea.
American Sleep Apnea Association.Sleep apnea information for clinicians.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Sleep apnea information page.
American Academy of Sleep Medicine.Treating sleep apnea reverses brain damage.
Pollicina I, Maniaci A, Lechien JR, et al.Neurocognitive performance improvement after obstructive sleep apnea treatment: State of the art.Behav Sci (Basel). 2021;11(12):180. doi:10.3390/bs11120180
American Sleep Apnea Association.The importance of sleep and understanding sleep stages.
Palomares JA, Tummala S, Wang DJ, et. al.Water exchange across the blood-brain barrier in obstructive sleep apnea: an MRI diffusion-weighted pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling study.J Neuroimaging. 2015;25(6):900-5. doi:10.1111/jon.12288
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National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Sleep apnea.
MedlinePlus.Sleep study.
Sleep Foundation.How does a sleep study work?
Harvard Medical School Division of Sleep Medicine.Understanding PAP.
Owen JE, Benediktsdottir B, Cook E, Olafsson I, Gislason T, Robinson SR.Alzheimer’s disease neuropathology in the hippocampus and brainstem of people with obstructive sleep apnea.Sleep.2020;44(3). doi:10.1093/sleep/zsaa195
Harvard Medical School Division of Sleep Medicine.Risk factors.
Harvard Medical School Division of Sleep Medicine.Nonsurgical treatments.
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