Deep sleep deprivation may raise stroke and Alzheimer's risk: Study
Although the study does not demonstrate that sleep apnea can cause brain changes, it does demonstrate an association.
Ankush Pandey
Sleep is an important part of our daily routine and plays a big role in our mental and physical health. In the early 1950s, it was thought that sleeping was a passive activity. However, more research has shown that the brain is still very active even when the body is asleep.
According to a recent study, people who sleep less deeply may be more likely to suffer from stroke, Alzheimer's, and cognitive decline. The new study was published in Neurology, the American Academy of Neurology's medical journal.
Although the study does not demonstrate that sleep apnea can cause brain changes, it does demonstrate an association. Sleep apnea is a potentially life-threatening condition in which breathing stops and starts repeatedly during sleep. If you snore frequently and still feel tired after a full night's sleep, you may have sleep apnea.
"These biomarkers are sensitive signs of early cerebrovascular disease," study author Diego Z. Carvalho, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and a member of the American Academy of Neurology, said of the brain biomarkers, which depict the health of white matter in the brain.
Dr. Carvalho went on to say that there is currently no treatment for these brain changes, so we need to find ways to stop them from happening or getting worse.
140 people with obstructive sleep apnea participated in the study, with an average age of 73. At the beginning of the study, the participants did not have any cognitive issues or dementia. Sleep apnea was reported by 34% as mild, 32% as moderate, and 34% as severe.
The best indicator of sleep quality, the length of time people spent in the deep sleep stage, was the focus of the study. White matter hyperintensities in volume were found to be higher in people with severe sleep apnea than in those with mild or moderate apnea. Additionally, they lacked the integrity of their axons, which connect the brain's nerve cells.
On brain scans, tiny lesions known as white matter hypersensitivities can be seen. Sleep is a biomarker for the health of the white matter in the brain, which is crucial for connecting different brain regions.
The specialists represented age, sex, and conditions that could influence the hazard of cerebrum changes, for example, hypertension and elevated cholesterol.
