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According to a report published in Science Daily, older women with sleep-disordered breathing, as indicated by measures of hypoxia (oxygen deficiency), were more likely to develop cognitive impairment or dementia than women without this disorder. 

The study, reported in the August 10 Journal of The American Medical Association, says:  "Sleep-disordered breathing, a disorder characterized by recurrent arousals from sleep and intermittent hypoxemia, is common among older adults and affects up to 60 percent of elderly populations. A number of adverse health outcomes including hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes have been associated with sleep-disordered breathing," according to background information in the article. Cognitive impairment also has been linked to sleep-disordered breathing in some studies, but the design of most of these studies has limited the ability to draw conclusions regarding this association.

"Given the high prevalence and significant morbidity associated with both sleep-disordered breathing and cognitive impairment in older populations, establishing whether a prospective association exists between sleep-disordered breathing and cognition is important. This is especially important because effective treatments for sleep-disordered breathing exist."

As always, if you suspect you may have a sleep disordered breathing condition (which covers essentially everything from snoring through to severe obstructive sleep apnoea) it is critical you undergo a diagnostic sleep study to determine the nature and severity of your condition.  If a condition does exist, effective treatment can easily be arranged.

For more information, call us today on 1300 246 637 for a free, no-obligation discussion about your situation.