As we learn more about connections with sleep apnea and other health conditions, it helps us better understand how to help. Recently, we learned that sleep apnea is common in people with cognitive impairment. That means it affects people with memory and thinking problems. These memory problems impact concentration, decision making and learning new things. While it is a common part of growing older, it is important to pay attention to this.
Sleep apnea and cognitive impairment
In a recent study, obstructive sleep apnea was commonly found in people with cognitive impairment. This follows previous research that people with sleep apnea have an increased risk of developing cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.
When you can get better sleep each and every night, it is beneficial to your brain and it can actually improve your cognitive skills. The key thing here is that more than half of the people in the study who had cognitive impairment also had sleep apnea. This means they are missing out on that restorative sleep that improves memory and other cognitive skills.
Seek diagnosis and treatment
If you or a loved one suffers from cognitive impairment, it is important to get tested for sleep apnea. By understanding if you or a loved one has obstructive sleep apnea, we can provide a proper treatment plan to improve your sleep. In turn, that can help improve your cognitive functioning.
Contact Dr. Mayoor Patel at Craniofacial Pain and Dental Sleep Center of Georgia to learn more about sleep apnea and your treatment options.
