Health and Me

Itisha Arya

Can Untreated Sleep Apnea Raise The Risk Of Dementia and Anxiety?

sleep apnea dementia

Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia affect memory, thinking ability, and day-to-day functioning. While certain risk factors such as age and genetics cannot be altered, others are within our control. One such factor is obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that is both common and treatable. 

Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, occurs when breathing repeatedly stops and restarts during sleep. Growing evidence suggests that untreated sleep apnea may raise the risk of memory loss, cognitive decline, and dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. The encouraging part is that timely treatment may help safeguard brain health.

<h2>What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?</h2>

During sleep, the muscles at the back of the throat naturally relax. In people with obstructive sleep apnea, these muscles relax excessively and block the airway. As a result, breathing pauses briefly until the brain signals the body to wake up just enough to resume breathing. Nebraska Medicine neurologist Dr Daniel Murman explains that this cycle can occur dozens or even hundreds of times each night. Although a person may spend six to eight hours in bed, the repeated interruptions mean the sleep remains shallow and unrefreshing.

Many people live with sleep apnea without realising it. According to the Cleveland Clinic, some common signs to watch for include:

<ul><li>Loud and persistent snoring</li><li>Pauses in breathing during sleep, often noticed by a partner</li><li>Gasping or snorting sounds at night</li><li>Excessive sleepiness during the day</li><li>Difficulty concentrating or staying alert</li><li>Morning headaches or waking up feeling unrested</li></ul>

In more serious cases, repeated breathing pauses can lower oxygen levels during sleep. Over time, this oxygen deprivation can damage several organs, including the brain.

<h2>How Sleep Apnea Affects The Brain</h2>

Untreated sleep apnea can impact the brain in both immediate and long-term ways. “In the short term, disrupted sleep makes clear thinking more difficult,” says Dr Murman. “People may notice problems with attention, reaction time, multitasking, and memory. These issues can resemble early signs of dementia but may improve once sleep apnea is treated.”

Over longer periods, frequent drops in oxygen levels combined with poor sleep quality may lead to lasting brain changes. Research has consistently shown a strong association between untreated sleep apnea and an increased risk of:

<ul><li>All forms of dementia</li><li>Alzheimer’s disease</li><li>Vascular cognitive decline linked to blood vessel damage</li></ul>

Although studies are ongoing, scientists believe sleep apnea may harm the brain through multiple biological pathways.

<h2>Having Sleep Apnoea Increases Risk Of Anxiety And Dementia: Study</h2>

A long-term ageing study published in JAMA Network Open also found that sleep apnoea is linked to a higher risk of mental health conditions over time. Researchers from the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute analysed data from more than 30,000 adults aged 45 to 85, who were followed for an average of three years. Around 7,500 participants had sleep apnoea.

“In this national Canadian cohort study of 30,097 individuals, those at high risk of obstructive sleep apnoea had about 40 per cent higher odds of mental health conditions at both the start of the study and follow-up,” the authors wrote. “Over time, a high risk of OSA remained linked to a 44 per cent increase in the likelihood of developing new mental health conditions.”

The researchers also noted that middle-aged and older adults at high risk of sleep apnoea consistently reported poorer mental health outcomes. Women, people with lower incomes, and those with poorer overall health and life satisfaction were more likely to develop new mental health concerns. The findings underline the need for routine mental health screening among older adults at risk of sleep apnoea.

Previous research has already connected sleep apnoea with a higher risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. The study’s authors emphasised that future research should explore whether combining screening and prevention strategies could improve both mental wellbeing and long-term brain health.

Health Conditions A-Z

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sleep apnea and dementia

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sleep apnea brain health

alzheimers disease risk factors

untreated sleep apnea effects

sleep apnea and anxiety

cognitive decline and sleep

oxygen deprivation brain damage

sleep disorders in older adults

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Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia affect memory, thinking ability, and day-to-day functioning. While certain risk factors such as age and genetics cannot be altered, others are within our control. One such factor is obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that is both common and treatable. Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, occurs when breathing repeatedly stops and restarts during sleep. Growing evidence suggests that untreated sleep apnea may raise the risk of memory loss, cognitive decline, and dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. The encouraging part is that timely treatment may help safeguard brain health.What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?During sleep, the muscles at the back of the throat naturally relax. In people with obstructive sleep apnea, these muscles relax excessively and block the airway. As a result, breathing pauses briefly until the brain signals the body to wake up just enough to resume breathing. Nebraska Medicine neurologist Dr Daniel Murman explains that this cycle can occur dozens or even hundreds of times each night. Although a person may spend six to eight hours in bed, the repeated interruptions mean the sleep remains shallow and unrefreshing.Symptoms Of Sleep ApneaMany people live with sleep apnea without realising it. According to the Cleveland Clinic, some common signs to watch for include:Loud and persistent snoringPauses in breathing during sleep, often noticed by a partnerGasping or snorting sounds at nightExcessive sleepiness during the dayDifficulty concentrating or staying alertMorning headaches or waking up feeling unrestedIn more serious cases, repeated breathing pauses can lower oxygen levels during sleep. Over time, this oxygen deprivation can damage several organs, including the brain.How Sleep Apnea Affects The BrainUntreated sleep apnea can impact the brain in both immediate and long-term ways. “In the short term, disrupted sleep makes clear thinking more difficult,” says Dr Murman. “People may notice problems with attention, reaction time, multitasking, and memory. These issues can resemble early signs of dementia but may improve once sleep apnea is treated.”Over longer periods, frequent drops in oxygen levels combined with poor sleep quality may lead to lasting brain changes. Research has consistently shown a strong association between untreated sleep apnea and an increased risk of:All forms of dementiaAlzheimer’s diseaseVascular cognitive decline linked to blood vessel damageAlthough studies are ongoing, scientists believe sleep apnea may harm the brain through multiple biological pathways.Having Sleep Apnoea Increases Risk Of Anxiety And Dementia: StudyA long-term ageing study published in JAMA Network Open also found that sleep apnoea is linked to a higher risk of mental health conditions over time. Researchers from the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute analysed data from more than 30,000 adults aged 45 to 85, who were followed for an average of three years. Around 7,500 participants had sleep apnoea.“In this national Canadian cohort study of 30,097 individuals, those at high risk of obstructive sleep apnoea had about 40 per cent higher odds of mental health conditions at both the start of the study and follow-up,” the authors wrote. “Over time, a high risk of OSA remained linked to a 44 per cent increase in the likelihood of developing new mental health conditions.”The researchers also noted that middle-aged and older adults at high risk of sleep apnoea consistently reported poorer mental health outcomes. Women, people with lower incomes, and those with poorer overall health and life satisfaction were more likely to develop new mental health concerns. The findings underline the need for routine mental health screening among older adults at risk of sleep apnoea.Previous research has already connected sleep apnoea with a higher risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. The study’s authors emphasised that future research should explore whether combining screening and prevention strategies could improve both mental wellbeing and long-term brain health.