Three morning warning signs could signal higher dementia risk

Three warning signs on waking could indicate a high risk of dementia, health experts have warned. A common sleep disorder, believed to affect 10 million people in Britain, can briefly deprive the brain of oxygen, which can contribute to cognitive impairment.

Research published in 2022 in the journal Nature Communications established a link between obstructive sleep apnea and increased risk of dementia. Scientists from the University of Queensland in Australia also identified a causal link between reduced oxygen levels in the brain during sleep and neurodegenerative conditions.

Study author Professor Elizabeth Coulson explained: “We found that sleep deprivation alone in mice caused only mild cognitive impairment. But we developed a new way to disrupt sleep breathing and found that the mice exhibited worse pathological features of Alzheimer’s disease. This showed that hypoxia (when the brain is deprived of oxygen) causes the same selective degeneration of neurons that characteristically die in dementia.”

However, the study did not reveal how different levels of hypoxia affect the likelihood of developing this condition. Human trials will begin to investigate the link between oxygen deprivation and cognitive impairment, according to reports Surrey Live.

Professor Coulson explained: “It is estimated that around 50 per cent of older people have obstructive sleep apnea, in which the throat muscles intermittently collapse and block the airway during sleep, causing breathing to stop and start.”

Sleep Apnea Trust It estimates that up to 10 million Brits live with the most common form of the disorder, known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). It reveals: “It is estimated that up to 10 million adults in the UK are affected by Obstructive Sleep Apnea, with 4 million having life-changing symptoms such as excessive sleepiness during waking hours. Only around 700,000 people have currently been diagnosed.”

The most common symptoms include common. snoregasping for breath and silent breathing pauses that can last seconds to minutes. However, more obvious symptoms may occur while “waking up”.

Accordingly WebMDThese include:

• Waking up with a very sore or dry throat
• Morning headaches
• Dizziness when you wake up

NHS It defines sleep apnea as a condition characterized by intermittent stopping and restarting of breathing during sleep. Although sleep apnea attacks are unlikely to cause serious harm, neglecting to treat the condition can lead to more serious complications.

Professor Coulson explained that not everyone with obstructive sleep apnea will develop dementia. “Some dementia clinicians report that their patients’ memory improves after sleep problems are identified and treated,” he said.

Currently, the most effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is a continuous positive airway pressure machine (CPAP). This device works by keeping the airway open during sleep, allowing oxygen to reach the brain.

Scientists believe this equipment could potentially reduce the risk of dementia in sleep apnea patients. “We couldn’t fit CPAP into mice, but we experimentally prevented hypoxia and this halted cognitive impairment and neuron death and also reduced Alzheimer’s pathology,” Professor Coulson said. “This suggests that CPAP treatment of obstructive sleep apnea has the potential to reduce the risk of dementia.”

Sleep apnea is also associated with other serious health conditions, such as high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. This is because sleep apnea causes blood oxygen levels to drop dramatically when breathing stops, which increases the pressure within the blood vessels.

The NHS recommends checking with your doctor if you’re experiencing any of the key sleep apnea symptoms, such as:

1. Your breathing stops and starts while you sleep
2. You pant, grunt, or make choking noises while sleeping
3. You always feel very tired during the day