Untreated sleep apnea linked to physical brain changes in Alzheimer’s disease

PsyPost

People who have difficulty breathing during sleep may be more vulnerable to the brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease. New research published in Neurobiology of Aging provides evidence that sleep-disordered breathing has a meaningful effect on key brain and spinal fluid markers of the condition across different stages of cognitive decline.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, and identifying modifiable risk factors has become an urgent priority. Sleep-disordered breathing — an umbrella term for conditions where breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep, including obstructive sleep apnea — is now thought to be one such factor.