Can undiagnosed sleep apnea fuel Alzheimer’s?

You may not think much of your snoring, but new research suggests it might be affecting your brain more than you think.  

Snoring is a common sign of sleep apnea, a sleep disorder that often goes undiagnosed or untreated. However, you may want to address the health issue sooner rather than later as new findings published in JAMA suggest there might be a correlation between undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea and the risk of brain microbleeds. 

“Microbleeds are common as you age, but obstructive sleep apnea might be speeding up this process,” says Dr. Ryan Coates, a neurologist at Advocate Health Care. “Microbleeds increase your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. So, it’s important to address your sleep apnea as soon as you can to help mitigate future health risks.” 

Dr. Coates answers some questions about sleep apnea and how it might lead to Alzheimer’s: 

1. Is obstructive sleep apnea the same as central sleep apnea? 

No. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the upper airway becomes physically blocked during sleep, often due to relaxed throat muscles or excess tissue, causing breathing pauses. Central sleep apnea is a neurological issue where the brain fails to send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing.  

While obstructive sleep apnea is far more common, central sleep apnea is often associated with underlying conditions, such as heart failure or certain neurological disorders. 

2. What are the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea? 

Besides snoring, other common symptoms include excessive daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, difficulty concentrating, irritability and waking up feeling unrefreshed despite a full night’s sleep. Some people also experience frequent nighttime awakenings or gasping for air during sleep. 

3. Why does obstructive sleep apnea create a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s?

Obstructive sleep apnea leads to intermittent drops in oxygen levels and fragmented sleep, which can increase inflammation and oxidative stress in the brain. Over time, these changes may accelerate the buildup of beta amyloid and tau proteins, which are hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. Poor sleep quality also impairs the brain’s ability to clear these proteins during deep sleep, further raising the risk. 

What to do if you have sleep apnea 

If you suspect you’re experiencing sleep apnea symptoms, schedule an appointment with your health care provider who will evaluate you and might refer you to a sleep specialist.  

“Oftentimes, lifestyle changes, like losing weight or quitting smoking, are enough to treat milder cases of sleep apnea,” says Dr. Coates. “If the sleep apnea is a more intense case, we might explore CPAP machines, BPAP machines or even oral appliances to treat the sleep disorder.”  

Are you trying to find a doctor? Find one in Illinois or Wisconsin.