Sleep Apnea Linked to BRAIN SHRINKAGE
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted July 5, 2023
Some things are quick tickets to a shortened time here on Earth.
Smoking, abusing drugs, eating junk food, and chronic sleep issues all come to mind.
Sleep apnea makes the list too. At least when it goes untreated.
In fact, it’s a DOUBLE whammy for anyone who wants to live a long, healthy life. Because sleep apnea trashes your sleep AND reduces your body’s oxygen levels.
But that isn’t even the worst of it. Because research has now revealed a whole NEW threat that could send you to an early grave.
And no one saw this one coming…
You’ve probably heard of amyloid plaques before. They are protein deposits sometimes found in the brain’s gray matter.
Amyloid plaques are most often associated with Alzheimer’s disease. In some cases, the plaques appear to gum up the brain’s ability to work normally.
But they can ALSO show up in the brains of healthy, dementia-free folks.
Now a new study published in the journal, Neurology, has uncovered another disturbing link…
Researchers found that in a worrying number of cases, cognitively healthy folks with both amyloid plaques and severe sleep apnea also turned out to have hidden areas of atrophy in their grey matter.
In other words, their brains were shrinking.
You don’t need me to tell you that having less brain volume is NOT a good thing. But now we’re left with even more questions that need answers.
- Does sleep apnea trigger an increase in amyloid plaque production, leading to smaller brain size?
- Does the presence of both plaque and sleep apnea increase the risk of Alzheimer’s?
Obviously, more research is needed. But one thing we DO know is sleep apnea harms your health.
It increases your risk for high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. And it appears we can now add brain atrophy to that list.
So if you have the condition, the sooner you tackle it, the better off you’ll be.
The trouble is many folks don’t even know they have sleep apnea. You likely have the condition if you snore loudly or gasp for air during the night. And your best bet is to ask your partner if he/she observed it (or had to plug their ears to avoid the snoring).
If you suspect sleep apnea, see your doctor as soon as possible. They can order a home sleep study to diagnose or rule out the condition.
An APAP (automatic positive air pressure) or CPAP (continuous positive air pressure) machine is the best treatment for sleep apnea.
It can be challenging to learn to sleep with one. But most people get used to it with a bit of practice. And needless to say, the benefits are ENORMOUS… and may even include avoiding Alzheimer’s.
In addition, most folks with apnea are carrying around a few too many pounds. Studies have found that losing the extra weight can improve or even CURE the condition.
Avoiding alcohol, smoking, and sedative drugs can also help. And some folks find getting a bed that allows them to raise their head when they sleep reduces their apnea episodes.
P.S. Researchers say one common habit could INCREASE your sleep apnea risk by a shocking 78 percent! CLICK HERE for the details.
Source:
“Association of Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Medial Temporal Lobe Atrophy in Cognitively Unimpaired Amyloid-Positive Older Adults,” Neurology May 2023, 10.1212/WNL.0000000000207421; DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000207421
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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