Have your cognitive powers improved with CPAP?

Forgive any repetition, but, as a newbie with cognitive problems--and the latest Alzheimer's news--I would like to hear from any folks who feel their cognition has actually improved with successfully treating their sleep apnea. If you can tease out just being sharper from being rested, I am particularly interested in that; i.e., for me, I have slowed ability to figure out new things, focus problems and word retreival (and also use the wrong word often).

I definately feel "Sharper" -- especially in the morning hours after waking up.

Yes! By the 3rd month on cpap, programming code felt like it was flying from my fingers and researching options was much much easier. Things that were difficult a few months before were much easier to understand.

Wantok wrote:Forgive any repetition, but, as a newbie with cognitive problems--and the latest Alzheimer's news--I would like to hear from any folks who feel their cognition has actually improved with successfully treating their sleep apnea. If you can tease out just being sharper from being rested, I am particularly interested in that; i.e., for me, I have slowed ability to figure out new things, focus problems and word retreival (and also use the wrong word often).

Hi Wantok,

I also had similar symptoms with my sleep apnea. I have just been on CPAP for about 2 /12 weeks and I am noticing a significant improvement-- particularly in word-finding and my ability to focus. These symptoms can be caused by many things-- but sleep deprivation, (REM sleep deprivation in particular) and hypoxia (low oxygen levels int he blood) are two causes that I would think are most likely to blame among people with SDB. I am hoping to continue to see improvement as I'm still not back to my baseline.

I have regained my focus and problem solving has improved. Combined with no more daytime fatigue, I have become much more productive.

Absolutely , definite improvement in that regard . i can't function properly without a good 7-8+ hrs.on cpap.
That doesn't mean i bat a 1,000 when it comes to remembering such & such . cpap has become a welcomed necessity for me .

I believe I've suffered from severe sleep apnea throughout my life. Before starting CPAP, I was always groggy and fuzzy-headed for several hours early each morning, or throughout the day on a bad day. Now, I'm mentally sharp and ready to face the day as soon as I finish my shower.

it has definitely helped

Memory research has indicated that sleep and the cycling thru all four stages is paramont to 1. memory retention; 2. recall; 3. transferring short-term memory to long term; 4. "defragging" the brain and 5. destressing emotions. With sucessful OSA treatment, ppl can sleep and cycle. Also, being that the brain uses (from memery no pun intended) 20% of O-2 consumption; the more consistent delivery of O-2 to the brain helps in being aware the next day.

Asks Wantok: I would like to hear from any folks who feel their cognition has actually improved with successfully treating their sleep apnea.

Absolutely. My cognition (reasoning, awareness, analytical ability, and sustained focus) has increased. My cpu has been humming along at this enhanced rate for seven great years now, almost from the xpapian get-go.

Perhaps I should color this in a little more. My ability to multi-task has increased, my recall (long and short-term) has largely returned, and my speech is now more lucid and fluid (previous to diagnosis, it was sometimes a bit halting). I think more deeply now, and with sustained focus instead of superficially skipping from thought to thought. I tend to read entire articles, where before OSA diagnosis I tended to read one or two paragraphs. Crossword puzzles are easier now, and more fun. I am much more likely to finish a book that I begin reading. (Now, if I can only finish the one I'm writing.)

New OSA patients have much to look forward to as they begin xpap therapy and work to optimize the therapeutic success. Keep at it, expect some challenges, and above all, keep a sense of humor.


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I believe my sharpness has improved. Before cpap I was mostly feeling lethargic during the day and hated to start a project since I always felt so 'tired'. What an improvement for me. I also have to credit taking Vitamin D3 everyday has added to my overall feeling of 'well-being'. Not that long ago, I actually looked for excuses why I might get out of using the cpap machine at night. I would 'treat myself' to the occasional night off. But now, I actually look forward to my machine. It's certainly odd how our lives change and then change again over the years. When I last checked, the rescan rpt showed the compliance at about 88%. Feelin' good!

I was 58 when I started using CPAP. At that time I was verry worried that I was developing
alzheimes. My memory inproved a lot after starting to use my CPAP. But before I started
using CPAP a month after I read a book I could enjoy reading it again becauseI didn't rember
a thing about it. I wound up with quite a lot of duplicate copies of books that way.

I don't see how perfection can be improved upon, so I'd have to say No.

No doubt about it! My cognitive powers have soared to the moon

Only problem is that now everyone thinks I'm a loon cuz I can see and understand things that were oblivious before CPAP treatment and are still oblivious to most people ... like the inevitable and imminent collapse of the US dollar reserve currency hegemony and the consequences that will follow that collapse.