The possibility of Alzheimer’s disease with sleep problems
People suffering from sleep apnea should definitely treat it, because there is a possibility of Alzheimer’s disease in these cases and if the person does not suffer from Alzheimer’s, sleep apnea can cause the formation of cognitive problems. In this article from Hi doctor We have dealt with the complications of sleep problems. Join us.
The results of three studies have shown that breathing problems during sleep may be a sign of an increased risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers have also pointed out that the treatment of diseases such as sleep apnea and hypopnea (shallow breathing) may reduce the risk of Dementia reduce or at least slow down its progress.
What’s interesting about these three studies is that they focus on biological changes in the brain that may underlie the relationship between sleep problems and Alzheimer’s disease, according to Keith Fargo, director of programs and scientific partnerships at the Alzheimer’s Association of America.
However, Fargo points out that these studies only show an association between sleep problems and Alzheimer’s disease, not a cause-and-effect relationship. But it is possible that the development of amyloid plaque, which is a symptom of Alzheimer’s disease, causes sleep problems.
People with sleep apnea should treat this problem, because if they do not even have Alzheimer’s disease and will never get this disease, sleep apnea can cause cognitive problems in them.
Sleep apnea affects three out of 10 men and one out of five women. This condition occurs when the upper airway is almost or completely closed, causing pauses in breathing during sleep.
In the study, sleep apnea was associated with increased development of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain. According to the researchers, sleep problems accelerate the rate of amyloid plaque development in both people with and without dementia.
Specifically, researchers found that sleep apnea is associated with increased beta-amyloid deposition in the brain and reduction of beta-amyloid in cerebrospinal fluid has been associated. They also observed increased levels of tau protein – another marker of Alzheimer’s disease.
In the first study, led by Amanda Shim of Wheaton College, researchers looked at the accumulation of amyloid plaque in the brains of more than 500 people who did not have dementia.
The findings showed that people with sleep problems had more plaque than those who did not suffer from sleep problems.
In addition, Shim’s research team did not find an association between the plaques and people who carried the APOE-e4 gene – a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
According to Shim, this suggests that sleep apnea may be independently associated with brain plaques.
In a second study, Megan Hogan and her colleagues conducted a similar analysis that looked at the effects of sleep problems on nearly 800 people with early signs of memory and thinking problems known as mild cognitive impairment.
Hogan’s team also found that beta-amyloid levels were higher in people who had sleep problems than those who did not.
According to Hogan, although mild cognitive impairment does not necessarily lead to dementia, people with it are at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia. These findings suggest that sleep apnea may facilitate cognitive decline.
In the third study, Dr. Imingo Michael Bobo’s team studied the conditions of the two groups that were examined in the first and second studies, as well as 300 people with Alzheimer’s disease.
The research team investigated the relationship between sleep apnea and beta-amyloid levels in patients with mild cognitive impairment and in patients with Alzheimer acquired. Additionally, plaque development was faster in patients with sleep problems, whether they had normal brain function or mild cognitive impairment.
Also, beta-amyloid decreased in the spinal fluid and increased more rapidly in the brain. Tau protein levels were also increased among people with sleep problems, whether they had normal mental functioning or mild cognitive impairment.
According to Bobo, sleep problems that cause the brain to not receive enough oxygen may be the cause of increased plaque development. Since there are effective treatments for sleep disorders, one way to potentially prevent Alzheimer’s disease and/or its progression is to treat sleep apnea.
Source: Asr Iran