New study links sleep disorder to smaller brain volume
A recent study published in the medical journal Neurology has found an association between severe sleep apnea and reduced brain volume in regions crucial to memory in individuals showing early signs of Alzheimer’s disease. The study highlights the importance of further research into treatments for sleep-disordered breathing, which may potentially enhance cognition and delay neurodegeneration.
Previous studies have already demonstrated a link between sleep apnea and an increased risk of dementia. However, this new study specifically investigates the relationship between sleep apnea and brain volume. The research compared individuals who exhibited amyloid plaques in the brain, an early indication of Alzheimer’s disease but with no memory problems, with those who had no amyloid plaques.
The findings revealed that among individuals with amyloid plaques, those with more severe sleep apnea were more likely to have lower volumes in the medial temporal lobe area of the brain, including the hippocampus, which plays a crucial role in memory and Alzheimer’s disease.
It’s important to note that the study only establishes an association between sleep apnea and lower brain volume, without proving a causative relationship. The study involved 122 participants with an average age of 69 who did not exhibit memory problems. Out of this group, 26 individuals had amyloid plaques in their brains. The participants underwent brain scans, memory tests, and overnight sleep studies conducted in their homes. The memory tests were repeated after an average of 21 months.
Overall, the study found that lower volumes in the hippocampus at the beginning of the study were associated with lower scores on episodic memory tests conducted at the end of the study. This reinforces the importance of further research into the impact of sleep apnea on brain health and the potential benefits of sleep-disordered breathing treatments in preserving cognitive function and delaying the progression of neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.