Untreated sleep apnea linked to dramatic cognitive decline

For the uninitiated and well-oxygenated, sleep apnea is a condition that causes people to stop breathing during sleep. Sufferers rarely know they have it until someone notices them struggling to draw a breath mid-snore. Depending on the severity, sleep apnea can be treated with a continuous positive airway pressure machine, or CPAP. Now, a new study from researchers at the University of Florida stresses how important it is to treat the condition: Untreated, sleep apnea is associated with a 69% faster decline in cognitive function over 10 years. While people with sleep apnea may not all see the short-term benefit of using a CPAP, researchers said using it for longer, sustained periods can help offset cognitive decline. The study used a decade’s worth of data from Medicare claims and annual assessments to analyze the relationship between sleep apnea and how brain function begins to slide with age. Cognitive decline takes years to develop. Earlier studies that looked at obstructive sleep apnea treatment and cognition were shorter, ending around the six-month mark. This study explores the effects of up to 10 years of treatment. Researchers estimate that over 40% of dementia cases worldwide might be attributable to lifestyle factors like sleep problems — and that sleep apnea treatment might mean better cognitive health. And, although researchers say a CPAP is considered the gold standard, there’s tremendous variability in terms of accessibility, or in when people are diagnosed, if at all. So, if you’re worried about yourself or a loved one, talk to your doctor. Good sleep — and good health — are nothing to snore at.