Long Term damage done to the brain from Sleep Apnea

Otter · Post by **Otter** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 1:32 pm

Our brains are extremely plastic. I'm sure a lot of us do loose some brain cells to OSA, but the extent of this is hard to detect because the brain will adapt. It's also difficult to distinguish impairment from ongoing sleep disturbance from permanent damage from one's untreated years. And of course, just because you're not as sharp as you were when you were 20 doesn't mean you're noticeably worse off than you would have been without OSA. People without OSA tend to fade a bit as they age too.

I suspect that for me, what's going to make more of a difference is what I didn't learn because I was too tired. But it's hard to say what might have been.

LinkC wrote:I know I have residual impaired memory (tests confirm...) and there's a number of years just prior to CPAP of which I have no recollection whatsoever. I call it my "dark period". My current memory capacity has improved dramatically since CPAP, but the dark period has not...and I anticipate it won't.

Sounds to me like that might be more a matter of functional impairment at the time than actual brain damage. If your short term memory wasn't getting transferred to long term, you wouldn't remember. OTOH, if you didn't remember those years because of massive brain damage, you wouldn't remember the years before your dark period very well either.

LinkC · Post by **LinkC** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 4:47 pm

Otter wrote:Sounds to me like that might be more a matter of functional impairment at the time than actual brain damage.

According to my neurologist, it's both. The dark period is likely the result of lack of REM processing pre-CPAP. Current (last Spring) memory testing shows minor short-term memory impairment still exists. To me, it's more of an annoyance than an actual impairment. (And sometimes a darn good excuse! )

ZIFF · Post by **ZIFF** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 5:07 pm

I have mentioned this before, but it's on topic. At one point I saw a comment online that the ocular motility disorder known as esotropic strabismus had a high enough correlation with OSA that any optometrist seeing a child with the condition should recommend the child be evaluated for OSA. So, especially at a young age, the oxygen deprivation can result in permanent damage.

Resister · Post by **Resister** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 5:23 pm

This definitely bears more research. Makes me wonder how much better functioning I could've/would've been.

ThirdOutOfFive · Post by **ThirdOutOfFive** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 6:44 pm

Folks, I just found an article on WebMD that is interesting, and hopeful. It says that apnea patients who are on PAP therapy actually show evidence of re-growth of gray matter in the hippocampus of the brain.
I could not read the whole link so I'll tell you what I know about how to get to this article: Go to WebMDdotcom; find the Obstructive Sleep Apnea home page; click on Latest News.

cherylann · Post by **cherylann** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 9:17 pm

MsBea wrote:What time of day did your seizures occur?

Mine occurred during the day - late morning early afternoon. It sounds like we had similar experiences. How long after you were diagnosed with epilepsy before the onset of the apnea symptoms?

archangle · Post by **archangle** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 9:25 pm

LinkC wrote:sometimes a darn good excuse!

You know, I was thinking that same thing. "Sorry, honey, I don't remember that."

sickwithapnea17 · Post by **sickwithapnea17** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 1:16 am

it's really strange I'm having memory problems AND focusing/concentration problems after 2 years of sleep apnea that isn't completely cured by bipap and O2. I don't know what to do, it's difficult to do math for me now

sickwithapnea17 · Post by **sickwithapnea17** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 1:23 am

I also wonder if bipap is never a full cure on higher pressures because it tires your lungs and may cause central apneas
I just suddenly had sleep apnea problems 2 years ago when I was fine and resting well before that

SleepingUgly · Post by **SleepingUgly** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 11:14 am

Did anyone have experiences where they had NO recollection, even with reminders, of conversations they had, and then after going on CPAP no longer had this problem? I'm not asking this question for me... I DO have memory problems, but usually I recognize that I've heard the information when I'm reminded. I'm asking about a scenario where you participate in a conversation, and the next day you bring up the topic again, and even when reminded of the content of the previous conversation, you have zero recollection of it. Next day, same thing can occur. Anyone? Did it improve once going on CPAP?

SleepyT · Post by **SleepyT** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 6:03 pm

SleepingUgly wrote:Did anyone have experiences where they had NO recollection, even with reminders, of conversations they had, and then after going on CPAP no longer had this problem? I'm not asking this question for me... I DO have memory problems, but usually I recognize that I've heard the information when I'm reminded. I'm asking about a scenario where you participate in a conversation, and the next day you bring up the topic again, and even when reminded of the content of the previous conversation, you have zero recollection of it. Next day, same thing can occur. Anyone? Did it improve once going on CPAP?

I was introduced to someone (by a friend) who came to my home and took care of the pets for a long weekend. I had sleep apnea but was untreated at the time. I'm sure I showed her the drill...how much to feed them, etc. A year later I had to meet her all over again because I had no memory of meeting her or of her pet sitting for me. None. I still don't remember any of it...nor do I expect to. Now that I am treated for sleep apnea...I'm assuming that won't happen again.

You should have seen me trying to explain THAT one to her. She must've thought I was crazy.

mackA · Post by **mackA** » Sun Aug 31, 2014 2:28 pm

prefer2breathe wrote:I just visited a new. sleep doctor today and mentioned to him that I was diagnosed about three years ago with sleep adone pnea and that cpap had never helped me increase my activity level. I have tried everything with tweaking my pressures (through doctors orders) and my treatment is good. Anyway, he mentioned to hopinghat even though I'm on cpap and its treating my apnea now doesn't necessarily reverse the damage that it has already done to my brain. I have really, severe apnea (97 ahi) on my original sleep study. He said that usually when people have it so severe and for a good length of time that there's receptors in our brain that actually become insensitive or dull and therefor is the reason for my constant fatigue, even with cpap. He said cpap is definately needed so it doesn't get any worse but it doesn't always necessarily reverse the damage already done. I was eventually put on Concerta for fatigue, and that works awesome. He said that that drug actually stimulates that part of the brain that was effected. Does anyone know anything about the long term damage done to the brain from sleep apnea that can't be reversed? I was just curious about this and was wondering if there was anyone else out there that kind of fits into this category as well.

Ive got OSA, it took doctors 8 yrs to figure out what's wrong with me. Though i must say that i didn't have many of the tipical risk factors. After being treated for a year i still felt like shit all the time. It turns out im allergic to dusts mites and my nasel Air way closes off during the night. I go in for surgery in just over a month. hoping this will improve quality of life a little more. Currently im getting under 3 hours of treatment on cpap. My doctor put me on a drug called modafinil. Night and day difference between quality of life. Highly recommend it for anyone who has sleep apnea and still feeling tired. this drug is the only stimulant on the market that isnt habit forming. Improves my memory abilities to function and my enjoyment of life.

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Sun Aug 31, 2014 2:50 pm

Mack -I started a new thread titled in your name - take a look at it.

Machine	Mask	Humidifier

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Long Term damage done to the brain from Sleep Apnea

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