Snoring Could Give You DEMENTIA?!
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted May 24, 2023
We sure have a lot of ways to refer to snoring here in the United States.
Sawing logs, mowing hay, hitting a knot, and blowing zs are just a few that come to mind.
But regardless of what you call it, snoring is serious business. And if you, or someone you love, snores, you should know about a new study.
Snoring isn’t pleasant for the snorer OR their partner, who may be forced to sleep with a pillow over their head to get some zzzs.
But snoring is much more than just a pain in the ear. It could be a sign of something serious.
Snoring is often a sign of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a disorder that causes you to repeatedly stop and start breathing in your sleep.
It’s estimated that as many as 20 percent of people suffer from OSA. But the National Sleep Foundation says that a stunning 85 percent of folks with the condition are unaware they have it.
With OSA, the muscles at the back of the throat relax and collapse, closing the airway. This causes the person to stop breathing momentarily and then gulp for air throughout the night, resulting in that heavy snoring.
Sleep apnea doesn’t just disturb your sleep and keep your partner awake.
It can harm your health.
OSA is often associated with other conditions (comorbidities), including obesity and diabetes. And research shows it could raise your risk for heart disease and other heart conditions.
But now researchers have raised a NEW red flag. And it’s a doozy.
The study published in the journal Frontiers in Sleep found that OSA is associated with brain (cognitive) defects in men 35 to 70.
When compared to guys without sleep apnea, the men with OSA had difficulty with the following:
- paying attention (vigilance)
- making plans and following through (executive functioning)
- short-term visual recognition memory
- social and emotional recognition
These issues appeared in the men who DIDN’T have any comorbidities and those who DID. And taken together, these kinds of thinking problems show a brain that’s not functioning up to par.
In other words, sleep apnea could raise your risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
More research is needed. But it’s easy to make an educated guess WHY this is happening.
Folks with OSA aren’t getting enough oxygen to their brains repeatedly throughout the night. Since our brains REQUIRE oxygen to function, it’s an obvious problem. But it’s not the end of the story.
The snoring and repeated apnea episodes also disrupt sleep. And interrupted sleep is bad for brain function, messing with memory, recall, and emotion. Plus, it boosts brain inflammation, one of the causes of dementia.
If you snore or know someone who does, ask your doctor about testing for sleep apnea. Many clinics allow you to take the test in the comfort of your own home.
P.S. Researchers have discovered that THIS dangerous habit could INCREASE your sleep apnea risk by up to 78 percent! CLICK HERE for the chilling details.
Source:
“Distinct cognitive changes in male patients with obstructive sleep apnoea without co-morbidities,” Front. Sleep, 06 April 2023, Sec. Sleep, Behavior and Mental Health, Volume 2 – 2023, https://doi.org/10.3389/frsle.2023.1097946
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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