A Michigan Medicine study examining over 18,500 adults found that obstructive sleep apnea—a disorder characterized by disrupted breathing during sleep—may increase the risk of developing dementia. Notably, women showed an increased risk of dementia diagnosis as they aged while men’s risk decreased. Researchers suggest that the disparity between the sexes might be related to women’s higher risk of cardiovascular disease, increased likelihood of insomnia, and hormonal changes during menopause.
Although six million Americans have been officially diagnosed with sleep apnea, the disorder is believed to affect approximately 30 million people, making it significantly underdiagnosed. The study’s findings emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea, as it may contribute to cognitive decline through sleep deprivation, fragmentation, and inflammatory changes in the brain.
Image from iStock by Hope Connolly.