What kind of brain damage does sleep apnea cause?

From research conducted at UCLA over the past 12 years, experts have learned that the gasping during the night that characterizes obstructive sleep apnea can damage the brain in ways that lead to high blood pressure, depression, memory loss and anxiety.

Can sleep apnea cause permanent brain damage?

Untreated OSA is associated with cognitive impairments and problems with mood, memory, and alertness. Researchers believe that sleep apnea may cause brain damage due to the long-term effects of chronic sleep deprivation, as well as oxygen deficiency and the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier.

How do I know if I have brain damage from sleep apnea?

OSA is a chronic disease that involves repetitive pauses in breathing during sleep. These breathing pauses can prevent your body from supplying enough oxygen to the brain. In severe cases this lack of oxygen can lead to brain damage. Signs of this damage include memory problems, difficulty concentrating, and moodiness.

What part of the brain is damaged with sleep apnea?

A 2019 study published in Sleep examined the effects of OSA on the hippocampus, a part of your brain that plays an important role in memory function. Since OSA is already associated with shrinkage of the hippocampus, the authors of the study investigated whether the extent of the damage depends on OSA severity.

Can brain damage caused by sleep apnea be reversed?

Brain damage caused by severe sleep apnea is reversible. DARIEN, IL – A neuroimaging study is the first to show that white matter damage caused by severe obstructive sleep apnea can be reversed by continuous positive airway pressure therapy.

Screening Patients with Traumatic Brain Injuries for Sleep Apnea

How sleep apnea ruined my life?

You see, sleep apnea causes a loss of quality of life. Your whole day can be ruined by its effects as you become sleepy throughout the day and your mental ability begins to slow. You have trouble concentrating and your performance at work is hindered and your productivity slows down.

How many years does sleep apnea Take off your life?

If left untreated, obstructive sleep apnea can shorten your life from anywhere between 12-15 years. While there is no permanent cure for obstructive sleep apnea, diagnosis and treatment will alleviate its effects. Proper treatment can ensure that your OSA won't shorten your life.

Can you get dementia from sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is considered a risk factor for dementia. People with sleep apnea have been shown not only to have impaired memory and executive function, but also biomarker changes that are associated with Alzheimer's disease.

What are the long term effects of untreated sleep apnea?

As a result, if left untreated, people may experience “poor sleep quality and progressive brain damage, induced by obstructive sleep apnea” which could lead to “poor memory, emotional problems, decreased cognitive functioning and increased cardiovascular disturbances,” according to Seung Bong Hong, PhD, MD and lead ...

What is the most severe case of sleep apnea?

Severe obstructive sleep apnea means that your AHI is greater than 30 (more than 30 episodes per hour) Moderate obstructive sleep apnea means that your AHI is between 15 and 30. Mild obstructive sleep apnea means that your AHI is between 5 and 15.

Can you reverse brain damage?

While damage to the brain cannot be reversed, functions affected by TBI can be recovered thanks to the brain's natural ability to rewire itself.

Can sleep apnea cause brain tumors?

Having already been linked to dementia, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain forms of cancer, obstructive sleep apnea is widely known as a serious medical issue. Now, a Chinese study has found that OSA may also increase a person's risk of developing brain tumors.

What kind of stroke is caused by sleep apnea?

The severity of the patient's OSA apnea-hypopnea index (AHI≥30) plays an important role in the development of ischemic stroke, especially in older patients. OSA is associated with the neurological deficits in stroke patients; if OSA severity is≥25, then the severity of the stroke is aggravated.

Does sleep apnea cause mental illness?

Sleep apnea also has an effect on mental health, and those with sleep apnea have a far higher risk of anxiety, panic disorder, depression, bipolar disorder, or even schizophrenia. It's not surprising that sleep apnea can cause anxiety.

What organs are affected by sleep apnea?

Digestive system. If you have sleep apnea, you're more likely to have fatty liver disease, liver scarring, and higher-than-normal levels of liver enzymes. Apnea can also worsen heartburn and other symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which can interrupt your sleep even more.

What are the chances of dying from sleep apnea?

About 19 percent of participants with severe sleep apnea died (12 deaths), compared with about four percent of participants with no sleep apnea (46 deaths).

Does sleep apnea affect memory loss?

“Obstructive sleep apnea can lead to serious cognitive issues related to memory loss,” Kent Smith, M.D., President of the American Sleep and Breathing Academy and Founder of Sleep Dallas, tells WebMD Connect to Care.

Can sleep apnea cause mental confusion?

Sleep apnea is also associated with trouble concentrating, memory problems, poor decision-making, depression and stress. For the study, the researchers examined levels of two brain chemicals: glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid, also known as GABA. These chemicals are found in a part of the brain called the insula.

What is fuzzy brain?

What is brain fog syndrome? Brain fog is characterized by confusion, forgetfulness, and a lack of focus and mental clarity. This can be caused by overworking, lack of sleep, stress, and spending too much time on the computer.

Why does sleep apnea shorten your life?

Sleep apnea is dangerous because if untreated, it leads to high blood pressure and is associated with an increased chance of heart attack, abnormal heart rhythms and heart failure. Studies have shown that sleep apnea can decrease life expectancy by several years.

Does CPAP shorten your life?

The study found that the CPAP users cut their odds of dying from any cause over those 11 years by almost two-thirds, compared to nonusers.

Is sleep apnea a terminal?

Sleep apnea and heart disease. Yes, you can die from sleep apnea.

Does sleep apnea cause Parkinson's?

Central sleep apnea (CSA) is also linked to Parkinson's disease because unlike an obstruction in the airway in OSA, CSA results in a miscommunication from the brain.

Can sleep apnea cause Alzheimer's?

Study provides new evidence that sleep apnea may increase risk of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers are reporting new evidence that sleep apnea—a common disorder that can cause people to snore frequently during sleep—may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Can sleep apnea cause aphasia?

One of the consequences following stroke is speech and language disorders that is called aphasia. Aphasia co-occurs with sleep disturbances like sleep apnea and it is suggested accompanying with speech therapy clinicians consider sleep treatment that it may hold the key for improved speech therapy outcomes.