OSA causes Dementia

[avi123]

"In a recent analysis of data from epidemiological studies, investigators found that individuals with obstructive sleep apnea and disturbed sleep secondary to that had developed dementia. One hundred patients had been followed for over a decade and two multi- longitudinal studies trying to determine cardiovascular risk factors of sleep apnea. The results were adjusted for gender, age and presence of apolipoprotein E4 (gene for Alzheimer disease). The findings were presented at American Academy of Neurology Meeting. It was reported that patients who were diagnosed with OSA, had developed dementia, and that sleep apnea was independently associated with dementia diagnosis. It is not clear whether chronic sleep deprivation or lack of deep sleep versus repeated drops in oxygen level in apnea patients was the mechanism to explain the findings. They concluded that sleep disruption increases the risk of future Alzheimer’s disease. This provides an even stronger motivation to identify and treat individuals with sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea."


from Dr Laura:

http://ljneurology.com/blog/category/sleep_disorders/

[Todzo]

Book of August 26th 2009

link to Amazon source: http://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Sleep-Your ... 0595528708


After surviving his own personal adventure with Sleep Apnea, Dr. Mack Jones wants to pass on to others what he learned so that they might avoid the many pitfalls that he encountered.
Who has Sleep Apnea? What are its consequences? How do you detect Sleep Apnea and how can you stop it? In Deadly Sleep: Is Your Sleep Killing You? , Dr. Jones answers these vital questions.
While discussing the basics, he emphasizes an area that has been overlooked or outright ignored; the discovery that Sleep Apnea is one of the likely causes of Alzheimer’s disease. But Sleep Apnea is also the likely cause or major contributor to a host of other life-threatening diseases and disorders that have been plaguing us for thousands of years.
The consequences of Sleep Apnea are astounding. Its effects on the victim and on society are catastrophic. It is time to wake up to this deadly disorder and put an end to it.

[jnk]

Untreated OSA can mess up pretty much everything as a person ages.

Thus the need for a person fully to explore proven strategies (such as PAP therapy and other proven alternative approaches for those unable to make PAP work) before getting caught up in chasing red herrings and going all experimental.

Problem is, that kind of focus in judgment can be one of the very things that get lost before treatment and one of the things that is unlikely to get resolved if no effective treatment is pursued.

In my opinion.

Dr. Gill touches on the implications and limitations of one (not sure if the same) study: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC6uSX8ZkZo

[Sir NoddinOff]

Thanks Avi123: As some of the members may know, my sister died last summer of tertiary stage Alzheimer's, mostly fatal complications involving lung degeneration and pneumonia. Over the last year she never recognized any family members and only occasionally her daily care-giver. My sister was a dental hygienist for her whole life and the whole family always suspected mercury fumes from the many thousands of drilled fillings she was exposed to. Later research tends not to show a solid link. I now suspect it was her untreated sleep apnea or SDB sleep disordered breathing, that was the real culprit. We used to commiserate how our family of snorers and poor sleepers ever survived as long as we did. Indeed, she was a mild snorer who often complained to me of her poor sleep quality - however she hid it entirely from her five children!!! IMO, even a mild case of snoring can prove deadly in terms of CO2/O2 exchange levels and long term health results, especially pathological brain/neuro chemistry.

I'd like to read that study abstract and the study text - anybody have any links to it that a layman (non-doctor) can access?

[old dude]

Wow.

Does the causative effect diminish itself when OSA is treated successfully, or is it a "damage done" kind of thing?

[jnk]

Causative effect is not verified, since studies verify association, not causation.

Bad sleep makes everything worse. Improving sleep improves everything.

Studies consider 4 hours a night at the wrong pressure to be "treating" OSA, so studies don't help verify treatment results that come from all night at the right pressure.

[Sheffey]

There is no doubt in my mind that OSA causes more cases of dementia that all other cases combined. No need to wait on scientific studies.

http://www.modernmedicine.com/modern-me ... s-patients

[jencat824]

OMG! This thread just scared the hell out of me. My mom died of Alzheimer's/dementia. Also my grandma, & 4 great aunts. Most all the female members of my dad's family too.

I wasn't treated for OSA until I was 40, and only found this forum in Oct of 2012, so I don't think my therapy was truly adequate until I found this forum. After becoming a forum member I learned I was a mouth breather & fixed that. The inadequacy of my therapy for so long scares me. I also have a host of other medical problems, including MS with seizure complications.

I've not yet come to terms with the fact that I probably will get Alzheimer's at some point as I age. I can forget where I laid a piece of paper & freak out! Sorry this sounds like a rant, but its just that OSA now added another component of my list of 'why I probably will get it'.

Sorry to bitch & moan, just scared.
Jen

[chunkyfrog]

I've always had trouble remembering some things, some names of things, titles, and even people.
CPAP gave me back my ability to concentrate and solve complex problems.
Even my boss noticed!

[ems]

Causative effect is not verified, since studies verify association, not causation.

Exactly. It's well known now that SA contributes to a variety of ailments. It may contribute to dementia but not cause it. We all know people who have SA and otherwise are healthy. As well, we know people who have many issues, including SA. We all know elderly people who have SA and do not have dementia or Alz. We all know people who have dementia or Alz and don't have SA - like one of my dearest friends.

There is so much we can be worried about as we age... I have SA but the chances of having dementia (tho it does increase as we age) is pretty slim. If I'm gonna worry, and I must admit there are times that I do, it's not about dementia or Alz.

[jnk]

. . . OSA now added another component of my list of 'why I probably will get it.' . . .

Perhaps the way to look at it is that you are treating your sleep, so that is something to put on your list of things that mean you probably won't get it.

[avi123]

[quote="Sir NoddinOff"]Thanks Avi123: As some of the members may know, my sister died last summer of tertiary stage Alzheimer's, mostly fatal complications involving lung degeneration and pneumonia. Over the last year she never recognized any family members and only occasionally her daily care-giver. My sister was a dental hygienist for her whole life and the whole family always suspected mercury fumes from the many thousands of drilled fillings she was exposed to. Later research tends not to show a solid link. I now suspect it was her untreated sleep apnea or SDB sleep disordered breathing, that was the real culprit. We used to commiserate how our family of snorers and poor sleepers ever survived as long as we did. Indeed, she was a mild snorer who often complained to me of her poor sleep quality - however she hid it entirely from her five children!!! IMO, even a mild case of snoring can prove deadly in terms of CO2/O2 exchange levels and long term health results, especially pathological brain/neuro chemistry.

I'd like to read that study abstract and the study text - anybody have any links to it that a layman (non-doctor) can access?[/quote]

Sir Noddingham, sorry to read about your family members who suffered from Alzheimer's. I can email Dr Laura and ask about the source of the study. I happened to read about it in Dr Laura's blog:

http://ljneurology.com/blog/

[jencat824]

@chunky frog: I do know my memory improved after I started CPAP.

@ems: I know you are right, it doesn't mean I will, but I still worry. I guess I'm a worrier by nature, although I know it's not healthy to worry so much.

@jnk: Thanks, that is a better way for me to look at it.

[Stevoreno_55]

In a recent analysis of data from epidemiological studies, investigators found that individuals with obstructive sleep apnea and disturbed sleep secondary to that had developed dementia. One hundred patients had been followed for over a decade and two multi- longitudinal studies trying to determine cardiovascular risk factors of sleep apnea. The results were adjusted for gender, age and presence of apolipoprotein E4 (gene for Alzheimer disease). The findings were presented at American Academy of Neurology Meeting. It was reported that patients who were diagnosed with OSA, had developed dementia, and that sleep apnea was independently associated with dementia diagnosis. It is not clear whether chronic sleep deprivation or lack of deep sleep versus repeated drops in oxygen level in apnea patients was the mechanism to explain the findings. They concluded that sleep disruption increases the risk of future Alzheimer’s disease. This provides an even stronger motivation to identify and treat individuals with sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea.


from Dr Laura:

http://ljneurology.com/blog/category/sleep_disorders/

Say what? I was first diagnosed with severe OSA back in 1999 and still have it today; fortunately my brain is still sharp and I hope it continues to remain that way for years to come. My neighbor who will soon turn 92 has dementia and I can see what it has done to her; so sad.


Stevoreno_55
MS Gulf Coast
05/15/14

[Therapist]

OSA causes Dementia

The evidence is overwhelming:

http://doctorstevenpark.com/index.php?s=alzh