Replace thinking chemicals lost from apnea?

[sickwithapnea17]

I've noticed really severe cognitive problems from sleep apnea- I can't remember sentences I've just read and do math well.
would it work to replace some of those cognitive chemicals lost from sleep apnea? would it be safe?
there are supplements like acetyl l-carnitine, the drug company says that it is supposed to help memory loss due to age in studies but who knows how reliable this information is?

[JohnBFisher]

Exercise does more for helping to maintain good brain health than additives. It does not have to be much. Just going for a walk, or doing house work, or whatever you might be able to do. That has been shown to have a better impact by helping improve blood flow and overall health of your brain.

My father taught me the KISS approach. He would tell me "Keep It Simple, Stupid!". Of course, Forest Gump tells us that "Stupid is as stupid does". And as it true with Forest, sometimes what appears to be smart is pretty stupid. And other times what appears to be stupid is pretty smart. Exercise is one of those.

[Slartybartfast]

The problem with such claims are that, if 'twere true that acetylcarnitine really did what they said it did, then the substance would be a drug, not a dietary supplement.
Drugs are legally defined as substances intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent disease. So if it were found that, for example, actylcarnitine did what they say it did, then it would come under regulation by the FDA and it would be manufactured, tested, prescribed and dispensed like any other drug.

However the above doesn't mean that all dietary supplements are worthless. I've worked in R&D for a mid-sized pharmaceutical company for 25 years, and perhaps I'm biased, but I am leery of the claims made by the supplement industry. However, I still take fish oil capsules and a multivitamin and saw palmetto and coenzyme Q-10 because they don't seem to cause any harm, and they actually might do something beneficial. I watch the research and keep hoping for some supplements like saw palmetto to show something better than inconclusive results.

Best way to proceed is to pay attention to your physical and mental health. Loss of cognition could be related to a sedentary lifestyle or subclinical depression, or just being in a lifestyle rut. An appointment with a neurologist or psychiatrist would take you farther toward your goal than talking the matter over with your GP.

[a]

thanks! yeah it's terrible in my early 30s I just started to have sleep apnea and all my energy and cognition was gone. I exercised, took metformin and saw many doctors but nothing helped.
I think using oxygen on bipap helps but still having trouble reading paragraphs and wheezing from something. and now I am permanently damaged it seems from this terrible disease
I still am crippled, have no energy, insomnia, wheezing during the day

[chunkyfrog]

Exercise will probably do you ten times more good than any 'supplement'
Proper diet is also critical.
Enough protein, lots of fruits and veggies.--avoid excess carbohydrates and huge helpings of fat.
Carbs and fat make me feel 'stupid' right away.

[Goofproof]

Exercise will probably do you ten times more good than any 'supplement'
Proper diet is also critical.
Enough protein, lots of fruits and veggies.--avoid excess carbohydrates and huge helpings of fat.
Carbs and fat make me feel 'stupid' right away.

Even faster when the carbs come from Beer! Jim

[sickwithapnea17]

there is some biochemical reason in our brains why sleep apnea causes memory loss and cognitive problems and the ability to think. maybe we lose certain chemicals from not entering deeper sleep? or are brains are directly damaged like Dr. Park seems to indicate from his DTI MRI scans.

if it is a lack of chemicals maybe it can be reversed through supplementation like acetyl carnitine. I have only 0.5% stage 3 sleep on my studies and almost never have dreams- the normal should be 5% stage 3.

[Goofproof]

there is some biochemical reason in our brains why sleep apnea causes memory loss and cognitive problems and the ability to think. maybe we lose certain chemicals from not entering deeper sleep? or are brains are directly damaged like Dr. Park seems to indicate from his DTI MRI scans.

if it is a lack of chemicals maybe it can be reversed through supplementation like acetyl carnitine. I have only 0.5% stage 3 sleep on my studies and almost never have dreams- the normal should be 5% stage 3.

Maybe it caused by brain cell that dies from the lack of O2. Jim

Those don't come back.

[Matty332]

Goofproof,

It has been scientifically proven that brain cells are generated/grown in the brain throughout your entire life. You just want to ensure you don't continually lose more than your brain can grow/replenish.

[stanta]

Goofproof,

It has been scientifically proven that brain cells are generated/grown in the brain throughout your entire life. You just want to ensure you don't continually lose more than your brain can grow/replenish.

Not necessarily the memories contained or the pathways to a memory. Any cell death causes scarring.

[LinkC]

Exercise and Vitamin B12 made a big difference for me. I'm not a doctor (and I don't play anything on tv), but my neurologist recommended both to me.

[Goofproof]

Goofproof,

It has been scientifically proven that brain cells are generated/grown in the brain throughout your entire life. You just want to ensure you don't continually lose more than your brain can grow/replenish.

http://www.brainlightning.com/regen.html, once again the science we were taught in school, is proven faulty, and in ten years what they think now will also be found faulty. It all comes down to Science as we know it is based on wild ass guesses, and sold to the highest bidder as fact. That's why I don't much believe in what other say are facts in science or history or news. You need to follow the money as it drives all things in this world. Jim

[Mary Z]

You might want to ask your doctor about taking Aricept.

[Therapist]

You might want to ask your doctor about taking Aricept.

That burns me that people watch drug company commercials and tell the doctor what they need for an undiagnosed condition.

[sickwithapnea17]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donepezil

I don't think the conservative approach is necessarily good if you are being brain damaged every night. what is the worst that could happen from taking donepezil? just a little upset stomach?
maybe vitamin shots like B shots can also be helpful. you can get a b complex at many drugstores. Gingko may also help cognitive function