Sleep apnoea could cause sleepless nights for reasons beyond this medical condition. The disorder, where collapsed airways disrupt sleep and cause the individual to wake up breathless periodically through the night, is now being associated with increased risk of Alzheimer’s. Researchers at New York University School of Medicine have found that elders who suffer from sleep apnoea show raised levels of amyloid beta in their brains. These are peptides involved in brain plaque build-up and cognitive decline of the kind associated with Alzheimer’s. Although no causal link has been established, researchers point to other studies which suggest that sleep disturbances could contribute to amyloid deposits and accelerate cognitive decline in individuals at risk of Alzheimer’s. The findings were published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Photo: 123RF.com
Featured in Harmony — Celebrate Age Magazine
March 2018