Sleep Apnea May Increase Your Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease

Chad Fincher • Feb 15, 2019

Researchers may have discovered another piece of the Alzheimer's puzzle. Studies revealed at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference held in London show additional evidence that patients with sleep apnea have an increased chance of developing dementia. Some forms of dementia can progress to Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most prevalent forms of dementia. A person can have Alzheimer's for years before developing recognizable symptoms. While the causes of Alzheimer’s and dementia are not entirely clear, they are thought to be caused by a combination of environmental and genetic factors.

Researchers may have discovered another piece of the Alzheimer's puzzle. Studies revealed at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference held in London show additional evidence that patients with sleep apnea have an increased chance of developing dementia. Some forms of dementia can progress to Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most prevalent forms of dementia. A person can have Alzheimer's for years before developing recognizable symptoms. While the causes of Alzheimer’s and dementia are not entirely clear, they are thought to be caused by a combination of environmental and genetic factors.

The Sleep Apnea Connection

Beta-Amyloids that build in the brain are a key marker for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease. Sleep apnea and disordered breathing cause amyloids to build in the brain. Neural imaging has clarified the connection between sleep apnea and dementia.

This connection between sleep disorders and dementia had been made previously, but it was originally determined that people who were at risk of Alzheimer's were also at risk for sleep-disordered breathing. Early research did not show the whole picture.

Sleep Disordered Breathing Creates Beta-Amyloids

With the use of a PET scan, it was determined that breathing disturbances during sleep caused the beta-amyloid plaque to build up in the brain before the subject showed any indication of mental decline. Researchers tested subjects with and without symptoms of cognitive decline and saw the same results with both sets of test subjects. Sleep apnea accelerated cognitive decline in patients who showed no impairment just a few years prior.

Oxygen Deprivation Accelerates the Process

It is now believed that either oxygen deprivation accelerates the production of beta-amyloid or that the lack of REM sleep caused by the apnea disrupts the brains glymphatic system. The glymphatic system, the process of waste removal, may require REM sleep to clear away the proteins that turn into plaque. It is the plaque in the brain that causes the cognitive decline. Treating sleep apnea and improving REM sleep allows for improved protein removal, reducing beta-amyloid plaque formation.

Apnea Treatment May Slow the Cognitive Decline of Alzheimer’s

Experts in Alzheimer’s research believe that treating sleep apnea can slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease. CPAP, dental appliances and positional therapy for sleep apnea may be beneficial for those in the early stages of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Treatment may slow the progression.

Sleep apnea is already known to cause sleepiness, metabolic and cardiovascular dysfunction. The risks of sleep apnea causing cognitive decline and dementia increase as a person ages. This indicates to Alzheimer researchers that developing better screening tools would benefit the elderly who may have sleep apnea but are still free of cognitive symptoms. Proper treatment of breathing disorders could slow the progression of cognitive decline.


Sources:

https://www.alz.org/braintour/plaques.asp

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320024.php

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25947369

https://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/info-2017/sleep-apnea-dementia-risk-fd.html

https://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_causes_risk_factors.asp#familyhistory

By Jeff Mannel 13 Nov, 2023
5 Ways to Support Your Elderly Family Members You Can't Be With
By Jeff Mannel 10 May, 2023
Seniors want to pass on the wisdom learned from a long life filled with valuable life experiences.
By Jeff Mannel 02 May, 2023
The blog post highlights the benefits of home health care for older adults who are recovering from injuries or managing acute or chronic health conditions. The post outlines several advantages of home health care, including greater independence, safety, comfort, and convenience, relief for family caregivers, prevention of avoidable hospital visits, cost-effectiveness, exceptional and personalized care, and a team of professionals delivering comprehensive clinical care. The post emphasizes that home health care enables elderly patients to receive the care they need while staying in the place they call home, promoting better health outcomes and higher patient satisfaction.
By Chad Fincher 26 Feb, 2021
As we age, we become less active, and we begin to spend more and more time indoors. This is a sad truth, but it's one that should be taken into consideration for seniors, especially those who reside in assisted living facilities. While things like exercise and socialization are always taken care of by the caregivers, have you ever stopped to consider whether poor lighting is negatively impacting your patient's health? Light plays an integral part in our biology, and an absence of quality light can have invisible, yet devastating effects on us psychologically and even physically. This article will go over four ways that poor lighting could be negatively impacting the health of seniors in care facilities or even in their homes. Switching up the lighting in your facility is a relatively inexpensive way to give a massive quality of life boost to patients.
By Chad Fincher 15 Mar, 2019
Aches and pains are a fact of life, particularly as you age. And many of them can seem like they spring out of nowhere. This is particularly true of pain in your bones. They’re not exposed to the elements at all—so why are they so achey all of a sudden? It could be that you’re engaging in behaviors or habits that are bad for the health of your bones and your joints. Here are some of the worst offenders.
By Chad Fincher 15 Feb, 2019
Researchers may have discovered another piece of the Alzheimer's puzzle. Studies revealed at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference held in London show additional evidence that patients with sleep apnea have an increased chance of developing dementia. Some forms of dementia can progress to Alzheimer's Disease. Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most prevalent forms of dementia. A person can have Alzheimer's for years before developing recognizable symptoms. While the causes of Alzheimer’s and dementia are not entirely clear, they are thought to be caused by a combination of environmental and genetic factors.
By Chad Fincher 08 Feb, 2019
Aging is a natural and beautiful process, and slowing down is quite alright. The tasks which were once a walk in the park for us may now require a little more time than before. As long as aging doesn’t hinder our everyday standard of life or harm our health and safety, we can easily age independently and continue to live our lives. When Should We Consider Home Healthcare? It is perfectly reasonable to have someone to help us out with personal care, daily chores, or activities that have now become quite difficult to manage. We really value our well-being at this point of life and if such activities compromise our well-being, then taking help from a dedicated caregiver becomes crucial. At Optimal Healthcare , we know exactly what you’re going through, which is where we would like to offer you our help. The Benefits of Home Healthcare The benefits of home healthcare can vary depending on the extent of your needs. It can involve live-in health aid, medical social work, behavioral health nurses, and speech/occupational/physical therapy. Other than these, our services promise our clients the utmost comfort, customized care, and complete independence. All-in-all, you can continue with your daily affairs with dignity while we lend you a helping hand. We Offer Various Levels of Help With our live-in caregivers, your everyday life would move on very smoothly and your activities will remain undisturbed. If you believe you need minimal assistance, then our professionals will only visit you occasionally. With our services, you will receive customized care. Ultimately, whatever provides you and your family with a peace of mind is going to be what we will strive for. If you require more time from our caregivers, then we can also plan frequent visits. These visits will include some advanced evaluations which will ensure optimal care. Even if you require intensive care, we will be able to install alert systems that can provide easy communication between you and professional caregivers. Essentially, all our caregiver services will be tailored to the specific needs of our respective clients while we ensure that they complement your established routines. Resources We Provide for Better Independence Once you or your loved ones are being taken care of, we also provide a plethora of therapy sessions which ensure your quality of life is preserved and elongated. An example of these includes physical therapy services that are aimed at enhancing mobility in the elderly. Speech therapy is another example of our services which work in a manner of monitoring and improving our clients’ cognitive abilities. This is especially in the case of clients who suffer from apraxia, dysphagia, dementia, or other similar diseases. If you want to learn about how you can schedule our services or fit them into your loved one’s schedule, then get in touch with us by visiting our website . By working together, we can come up with a blend of services that will promise optimal home healthcare for your senior loved one.
By Chad Fincher 25 Jan, 2019
By educating yourself on the care available and what might fit best for you and your family, you can make these important decisions with peace of mind. Many people aren’t sure of the difference between home health care and home care services, so when it’s time to decide between the two, it can be daunting. We’re here this week to help guide you through this decision making process so that you can feel confident in your care decisions.
By Chad Fincher 20 Jun, 2018
This time last year, we shared some of our favorite things that younger generations learn from their elders. Seniors have a wealth of knowledge to share, whether through miscellaneous daily activities like delicious cooking or vivid storytelling, or through larger life lessons such as dealing with loss or avoiding regrets. However, relationships between people of different generations can mean that information is shared both ways. When spending time with the younger generation, many seniors learn something new themselves. Here are the top five things the older generation can learn from today’s youth:
By admin 06 Jun, 2018
Making the transition to home care can be a daunting decision, and many people aren’t sure what everyday life will be for themselves or their loved ones once home care is in place. At Optimal Home Care, we understand what you’re going through and are here to help. This week we’re walking you through what average everyday life looks like with home care and will, hopefully, answer any questions you may have been facing while making this decision. While many home care experiences are similar, it’s important to understand that every individual’s experience is special to them and catered to their needs.
Show More
Share by:
Optimal Home Care | Quality In-Home Care Services