Research Identifies a Potential Link Between Sleep Apnea and Memory Loss 

A recent preliminary study conducted at the Boston Medical Center has shed new light on the relationship between sleep apnea and memory loss, which offers crucial insights into the potential impacts on cognitive health.

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder characterized by interrupted breathing during sleep and has long been associated with a myriad of health issues that range from cardiovascular problems to daytime fatigue. However, the extent of its influence on cognitive functions, particularly memory, has remained unanswered. This study sought to investigate the relationship between sleep apnea and cognitive symptoms in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults.

A government-funded survey, called the 2017-18 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), was used to pull data from 4,257 adult participants ages 20 and older. Participants were asked to answer questions related to their sleep quality, thinking, memory, and periods of confusion. Lead researcher, Dr. Dominique Low, used the questionnaire results to compare those who reported sleep apnea symptoms to those without. Preliminary results from the study include:

• Out of all participants, 1,079 reported symptoms of sleep apnea
• Of those patients with symptoms, 357 people, or 33 percent, reported memory or thinking problems compared to 628, or 20 percent, of those without symptoms
• Adjusting for factors, like age, race, gender, and education, found that participants who reported sleep apnea symptoms were about 50 percent more likely to report memory problems

The results of this study were limited as the data came from one survey sample and participants were asked to self-report and were not assessed by medical professionals. However, the findings suggest a positive association between sleep apnea and cognition. Further research will be needed to determine whether sleep apnea causes cognitive decline. Dr. Low also highlights the importance for early screening of sleep apnea, as treatments, such as a continuous positive airway pressure, which are commonly referred to as CPAP machines, are available and participants can be assessed for other factors that can reduce cognitive decline, including quality sleep, diet and exercise, and cognitive stimulation.

Further findings from this study will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 76^th Annual Meeting taking place from April 13-18, 2024.

References

Aan 73rd Annual meeting abstract. https://aanfiles.blob.core.windows.net/aanfiles/1e1edfb2-2fd4-4c69-af62-94c1927773b4/2024%20AAN%20Annual%20Meeting%20Abstract%20-%20Sleep%20Apnea%20Symptoms

Dementia: Can sleep apnea contribute to memory issues? Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/sleep-apnea-symptoms-may-cause-memory-problems#Sleep-apnea-linked-to-thinking-and-memory-issues

Sleep apnea symptoms linked to memory and thinking problems. AAN. https://www.aan.com/PressRoom/Home/PressRelease/5152