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Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a breathing disorder that causes persons to stop breathing hundreds of times during the night. This reduces the oxygen levels to the brain, which eventually cause memory problems.¹ Untreated sleep apnea doubles a person’s Alzheimer’s disease risk.² A Mayo Clinic patient with concentration issues was diagnosed with sleep apnea, and within a year of treatment, the patient’s neuropsychological tests were in the normal range.³

Some risk factors for sleep apnea are excess weight, family history, being male, smoking, nasal congestion from allergies, and having a narrow throat.⁴ Women are often under diagnosed.⁵ Untreated sleep apnea can also lead to daytime fatigue, high blood pressure, stroke, heart problems, and diabetes.⁶ Loud snoring is a symptom of OSA so anyone who snores loudly should be screened for sleep apnea.    

¹ Common Sleep Problem Linked to Dementia, https://www.alzinfo.org/articles/common-sleep-problem-linked-dementia/
²Daniel G. Amen, Use Your Brain to Change Your Age, Crown Archetype, NY, NY, 2012 Page 39.
³Sleep Apnea Disguised as Dementia, Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, October 6, 2011, http://www.aadsm.org/articles.aspx?id=2634
⁴Mayo Clinic Staff, Sleep Apnea, Mayo Clinic Website, http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sleep-apnea/basics/risk-factors/con-20020286
⁵Sleep Apnea Disguised as Dementia, American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine
Thursday, October 6, 2011, http://www.aadsm.org/articles.aspx?id=2634|
⁶Mayo Clinic Staff, Sleep Apnea, Mayo Clinic Website, http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sleep-apnea/basics/complications/con-20020286