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Sleep Apnea contributes to Dementia in older adults

Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields

Why in the News?

A recent study from Michigan Medicine found that Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a common sleep disorder, increases the risk of dementia (loss of cognitive functioning) in adults, especially in women.

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?

OSA is a sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep due to blocked airways.
It is marked by episodes of disrupted or restricted breathing, leading to brief awakenings throughout the night.
Symptoms include loud snoring, gasping for air, morning headaches, and daytime drowsiness.
Risk Factors: Common in individuals who are overweight, have large tonsils or suffer from nasal congestion.
- In India, approximately 10.4 lakh people are reported to suffer from OSA, as per government data.
- Untreated OSA is associated with various health risks, including heart disease, diabetes, and cognitive decline.

Recent Findings on OSA and Dementia Risk

A study from Michigan Medicine found a link between OSA and increased dementia risk, especially in older adults over 50.
- Women with known or suspected OSA were found to have a higher likelihood of developing dementia compared to men, with dementia diagnoses increasing as women age.
Another study by NIMHANS focused on the link between stroke and OSA.
- 105 stroke patients over the age of 50 were studied using polysomnography (PSG), which tracks brain waves and sleep breathing patterns.
- Results showed that 88% of stroke patients had sleep apnea soon after their stroke, with 38% having severe OSA.

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