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Sleep Apnoea and Brain Function.
The Border Mail, Albury, Australia, 18th May, 2009.
"Snoring 'harmful'
SLEEP apnoea sufferers who snore may be severely impairing their brain funcction, NSW researchers have found.
The changes in brain biochemistry linked to obstructive sleep apnoea have been compared to changes evident in people who have "had a severe stroke or who are dying", researchers at the Uniiversity of NSW Brain Sciences departtment have found.
"It used to be thought that apnoeic snoring had absolutely no acute effects on brain function but this is plainly not true," lead author of the study Professor Caroline Rae said.
The impairment is thought to be the result of a lack of oxygen reaching the brain during extended pauses in breathhing, a common characteristic of severe sleep apnoea.
Researchers studied the brains of 13 men with severe, untreated, obstrucctive sleep apnoea and found that even a slight lack of oxygen supply to the brain has an effect on function.
Professor Rae said it remained unnknown why the lack of oxygen caused a change in brain chemistry.
"The brain could be basically resetting its bioenergetics to make itself more reesistant to lack of oxygen," she said.
"It may be a compensatory mechanism to keep you alive, we just don't know. But even ifit is, it's not likely to be doing you much good."
Up to one-in-four middle-aged men are affected by sleep apnoea, with about 3 per cent going onto experience a severe form of the condition characterised by extended pauses in breathing, repetitive asphyxia and sleep fragmentation.
Professor Rae said the research highhlighted the importance for people to change their attitude toward snoring.
"People look at people snoring and think it's funny. That has to stop."
Children with large tonsils and addenoids have also been found to experiience similar chemical imbalances in the brain due to lack of oxygen."
Interesting?
"Snoring 'harmful'
SLEEP apnoea sufferers who snore may be severely impairing their brain funcction, NSW researchers have found.
The changes in brain biochemistry linked to obstructive sleep apnoea have been compared to changes evident in people who have "had a severe stroke or who are dying", researchers at the Uniiversity of NSW Brain Sciences departtment have found.
"It used to be thought that apnoeic snoring had absolutely no acute effects on brain function but this is plainly not true," lead author of the study Professor Caroline Rae said.
The impairment is thought to be the result of a lack of oxygen reaching the brain during extended pauses in breathhing, a common characteristic of severe sleep apnoea.
Researchers studied the brains of 13 men with severe, untreated, obstrucctive sleep apnoea and found that even a slight lack of oxygen supply to the brain has an effect on function.
Professor Rae said it remained unnknown why the lack of oxygen caused a change in brain chemistry.
"The brain could be basically resetting its bioenergetics to make itself more reesistant to lack of oxygen," she said.
"It may be a compensatory mechanism to keep you alive, we just don't know. But even ifit is, it's not likely to be doing you much good."
Up to one-in-four middle-aged men are affected by sleep apnoea, with about 3 per cent going onto experience a severe form of the condition characterised by extended pauses in breathing, repetitive asphyxia and sleep fragmentation.
Professor Rae said the research highhlighted the importance for people to change their attitude toward snoring.
"People look at people snoring and think it's funny. That has to stop."
Children with large tonsils and addenoids have also been found to experiience similar chemical imbalances in the brain due to lack of oxygen."
Interesting?
Views: 13
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mike on
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this is interesting, and ties in with other studies finding a connection between apnea and dementia and/or alzheimers.
It seems as if much of the fresh research that comes out on sleep apnea comes from Australian scientists. at some point, it would be interesting to hear from you or another Aussie about the process for getting diagnosed and treated for apnea in Australia, so we can see how it stacks up to the US model.
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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on
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These studies crack me up. They have known that apnea has caused a lack of o2 for almost 20 years now. They act as they have found something new. Of course a lack of o2 is going to cause problems in with the brain. Sorry Gordon I just think it is funny. It is interesting I just wish they would run new studies instead of reposting old ones.
I too am interested to hear if the Aussies are doing anything different.
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