Sleep Apnea Worsens Dementia In Elderly Women

August 11, 2011

Here’s an important study that must be taken seriously. Researchers from UCSF and various other institutions showed that in elderly women, having sleep apnea significantly increases your risk of developing mild cognitive impairment or dementia compared to those women who don’t have sleep apnea. In a study of 298 women as part of an osteoporosis study that underwent sleep studies, 105 (32%) were found to have significant obstructive sleep apnea (AHI >15). After 5 years, women with sleep apnea had a higher rate of cognitive impairment or dementia (44.8%) than those without sleep apnea (31.1%).

Knowing what we already know about sleep apnea and how it can ravage the brain, these results are not surprising.

Written by Steven Park · Filed Under Blog 
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4 Responses to “Sleep Apnea Worsens Dementia In Elderly Women”

  1. Dr. Deb on August 12th, 2011 2:40 am

    ah, but what was the AHI for the cognitively impaired group “without sleep apnea”? what was the RDI?

  2. Steven Park on August 12th, 2011 6:25 am

    Dr. Deb,

    Great point. Their cutoff for defining sleep apnea was an AHI of 15. They don’t take into consideration any of the smaller, more subtle breathing problems such as RERAs, flow limitations, and other types of arousals. So in theory, they could have 30 obstructions per hour (each lasting 1-9 seconds) and be categorized into the group without sleep apnea. 31% of women in the group without sleep apnea still developed dementia, compared to 45% in the group that had an AHI > 15.

  3. Jim Hales, DDS on August 24th, 2011 11:33 am

    Please help me connect with an urologist/sleep physician regarding nocturia.

  4. Jim Hales, DDS on August 24th, 2011 11:37 am

    Please connect me with an urologist/sleep physician regarding nocturia.

    Thank you for your wonderful service. Blessings, Jim Hales wed. 8-24-11

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