Older women with sleep apnea more likely to see decline in daily functions

November, 2014

A study involving 302 older women (mean age 82) has found that those with moderate to severe sleep apnea were at twice the risk of having problems in performing basic functions associated with independent living.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-11/jhub-oww111214.php

Spira, A. P., Stone, K. L., Rebok, G. W., Punjabi, N. M., Redline, S., Ancoli-Israel, S., & Yaffe, K. (2014). Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Functional Decline in Older Women. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 62(11), 2040–2046. http://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.13108

Related News

Chronic insomnia linked to memory problems

Disrupted sleep in one's 50s, 60s raises Alzheimer's risk

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when a person's breathing is interrupted during sleep.

People with OSA are known to suffer memory problems and also have higher rates of depression.

Poor sleep has been associated with Alzheimer's disease risk, but a new study suggests a specific aspect of sleep is important.

Untreated sleep apnea in children shrinks brain & may slow development

Brain scans of children who have moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnea have found significant reductions of gray matter across the brain.

A mouse study has found that mice (genetically engineered for Alzheimer’s) who were sleep deprived for eight weeks, not only showed significant cognitive impairment, but also showed a significant increase in the amount of tau protein that became phosphorylated and formed tangles.

A study involving mice lacking a master clock gene called Bmal1 has found that as the mice aged, their brains showed patterns of damage similar to those seen in Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Many of the injuries seemed to be caused by free radicals.

An Italian study has found that a significant percentage of Alzheimer’s patients suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome. This respiratory disorder, which causes people to temporarily stop breathing during their sleep, affects cerebral blood flow, promoting cognitive decline.

Data from 70 older adults (average age 76) in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging has found that those who reported poorer sleep (shorter sleep duration and lower sleep quality) showed a greater buildup of amyloid-beta plaques.

A study involving genetically engineered fruit flies adds to our understanding of why sleep and bioclock disruptions are common in those with Alzheimer's disease.

Pages

Subscribe to Latest newsSubscribe to Latest newsSubscribe to Latest health newsSubscribe to Latest news
Error | About memory

Error

The website encountered an unexpected error. Please try again later.