A recent University of Michigan study shows that women with either known or suspected sleep apnea have a higher risk of dementia. Obstructive sleep apnea, a commonly underdiagnosed sleep disorder common in adults, causes people to breathe shallowly or stop breathing altogether when sleeping. Investigators have examined cognitive screening data from over 18,000 adults to determine the potential effect of sleep apnea or risk for dementia. All adults who are 50 years of age or older, but mainly women, are affected by sleep apnea. People do not often know they have sleep apnea or are aware of the symptoms. However, having sleep apnea has been associated with a higher risk of a diagnosis or signs of dementia in recent studies.
The rate of dementia diagnoses has, in fact, decreased among men and increased in women as they age. The Sleep Clinic Director at the University of Michigan stated, “Our findings offer new insight into the role of a treatable sleep disorder on long-term cognitive health at the population level for both women and men.” He further stated that the reason for the difference in diagnoses of men and women is currently unknown, and he is unsure of the sex-specific changes, but there are several possible explanations.
One reason is that women with moderate sleep apnea can have a greater risk of cardiovascular disease and are also more likely to have insomnia. Both of these possibilities can have adverse effects on cognitive function. Furthermore, as women transition to menopause, their estrogen declines and dramatically impacts their brains. Harms can come about in this case, such as memory loss and changes in mood and sleep patterns that can affect a woman’s cognitive decline. The study further emphasized the importance of catching an early diagnosis for treatment and for those at risk to be aware of the signs.
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