Can Sleep Apnea Cause Alzheimer’s?
Researchers found that when people with Alzheimer’s and OSA are treated with CPAP, cognition and memory improves. This study was published in the November edition of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. They estimated that about 70-80% of Alzheimer’s patients have at least 5 apneas every hour. The authors concluded that CPAP may be an effective tool to improve cognitive skills if someone with Alzheimer’s also has OSA. They pointed out, however, that it’s unlikely that OSA causes dementia, and that the lowered oxygen levels and sleep fragmentation is what can aggravate poor cognition and memory loss.
