Many polysomnograms (PSGs) or in lab sleep tests have been done on patients with AD revealing an incidence of OSA of up to seventy to ninety percent.  The assumption has been that AD causes OSA, or they just happened to coincide, but I contend that OSA is the cause of AD.

There are no studies that either prove or disprove my hypothesis that long standing undiagnosed OSA is a cause of AD, but evidence is accumulating. For example, OSA is a recognized risk for Type 2 Diabetes. In the April 2008 issue of The Archives of Neurology, type 2 Diabetics had an increased risk or developing Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)(1) which is the earliest stage of dementia.  Fifty to sixty percent of patients with MCI progress to AD at rate of twelve percent per year.

Additionally, OSA is a known risk for the development of high blood pressure.  Like patients with Type 2 diabetes, those with high blood pressure were also found to have an increased risk of developing MCI.(2)  Since the majority of patients with MCI eventually progress to Alzheimer’s Disease at a rate of approximately twelve percent per year, then it’s not a stretch to conclude that OSA is a cause of Alzheimer’s Disease.

In 2006 a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences showed low brain oxygen (hypoxia) raises Alzheimer’s risk in the mouse brain with a genetic susceptibility.(3) A group of mice with an Alzheimer’s gene were given a maze test in which they all performed normally. They were separated into two groups, one exposed to 16 hours of a reduced oxygen environment (hypoxia) daily for several weeks; the other group in a normal environment.

The maze test was repeated and revealed the hypoxic mice performed poorly, whereas the control groups performance remained normal as before. All the mice were sacrificed and their brains examined under the microscope. Plaques and neurofibrillary tangles typical of Alzheimer’s Disease were present in the hypoxic mouse brain specimens, whereas the controls were normal. According to investigators, the study suggests that preventing brain hypoxia (as occurs in OSA) may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease.

Reported in the June 27th issue of Neuroscience Letters, sleep apnea patients have shrunken brain structures called “mammillary bodies” involved in memory according to Rajesh Kumar, PhD and colleagues from the University of California at Los Angles (UCLA).  High resolution MRI brain scans revealed mammillary bodies to be twenty percent smaller in patients with sleep apnea than in normals.  “These findings are important because patients suffering from memory loss from other symptoms, such as alcoholism or Alzheimer’s Disease, also show shrunken mammillary bodies,” Dr. Kumar said in a press release.

A recent study form San Diego showed that Sleep Disordered Breathing, including OSA, is and important risk factor for cognitive impairment in older women. (4)

Neuroimaging studies have been performed on patients with OSA including CT, MRI. PET and SPECT scans, revealing a variety of defects, but none has displayed anything quiet as dramatic as in a study published in SLEEP July7, 2008, by Dr. Paul M. Macey et al. (5)  The report reveals results of a new MRI technology called DTI (Diffusion Tensor Imaging). It is an extremely sensitive method of determining damaged nerve fibers (axons). This new imaging technique reveals multiple areas of brain damage in OSA patients not known to exist until now. DTI revealed various sized color-coded yellow-orange patches of brain damage scattered throughout the brains of a group of forty-one men and women subjects with OSA. Their ages ranged from thirty-eight to fifty two years old and they had not yet been treated. The areas of nerve fiber injury were wide-spread, located in critical regions of brain including prefrontal, temporal and parietal lobes. The cerebellum and brainstem were equally involved. This is the first report of DTI imaging of a group with OSA to my knowledge. The findings have far-reaching implications.

One can anticipate finding even more areas of damage in an older population as studies are done. What problems result from each one of these areas of brain damage?  It is possible that they are responsible for difficulties with cognition, mood, behavior, memory, heart regulation, high blood pressure, breathing control, fear, anxiety and other emotional disorders including depression? Those findings are yet to be reported. Could this brain damage eventually accumulate enough to cause Alzheimer’s Disease and/or the other dementias?

The structural changes likely represent accumulated damage over sustained periods of time.  Are they permanent or do they improve or disappear with treatment?  No one knows yet, but my guess is they may improve to some degree or even resolve with treatment, but we will have to wait and see.

The implications of these findings are profound. Early treatment of OSA could potentially prevent the development of Alzheimer’s Disease. Now is the time to wake up the public and our snoozing medical community and put an end to this disease.

References:

1. José A. Luchsinger, M.D. et al, Relation of Diabetes to Mild Cognitive Impairment, Arch Neurol. 2007; 64 (4):570-575.
2. Christine Reitz, M.D. PhD, et.al. Hypertension and the Risk of Mild Cognitive Impairment:, Arch Neurol. 2007; 64(12):1734-1740.
3. Xiulian Sun, et al, Hypoxia Facilitates Alzheimer’s Disease Pathogenesis By Up Regulating BACE1 Gene Expression. PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences) 2006 | vol.103 | no. 49 |18727-18732
4. Adam P. Spira, et al, Disordered Breathing and Cognition in Older Women: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Volume 56, issue 1, January 2008, 45-50.
5. Paul M. Macey, et al, “Brain Structural Changes in Obstructive Sleep Apnea,” SLEEP vol.32, Number July 7, 2008, 913-1056.

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After surviving his four year ordeal in search for a cure of his own sleep apnea, Dr. Mack Jones, a clinical neurologist, felt a need to pass on to others what he learned first-hand as a patient, so that you might avoid the pitfalls he encountered and possibly save your own life or the lives of your loved ones. Dr. Jones in his book, Deadly Sleep, expected publication date, June of 2009, discusses how this common sleep disorder is a likely cause of Alzheimer’s and possibly a host of other life threatening neurological diseases that may have been plaguing us for hundreds if not thousands of years. He can be contacted via e-mail by clicking here.

Steven Y. Park, MD is a surgeon and author of the book, Sleep, Interrupted: A physician reveals the #1 reason why so many of us are sick and tired. Endorsed by New York Times best-selling authors Christiane Northrup, M.D., Dean Ornish, M.D., Mark Liponis, M.D., Mary Shomon, and many others. http://doctorstevenpark.com.

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There are 2 types of apnea: obstructive and central sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is categorized by episodes of upper airway blockage during sleep. These episodes are repetitive and associated with reduced blood oxygen saturation. There are many things that can block the upper airways including large tonsils, excess tissue in the airway, a large tongue, airway muscles relaxing and collapsing during sleep. The nose and the structure of the jaw can also contribute to sleep apnea.

Central sleep apnea is also characterized by episodes of upper airway blockage and lack of effort in breathing during sleep. Central is rare in comparison to obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and is also much more difficult to diagnose. Neuromuscular problems are usually involved in this type of apnea. Generally the symptoms of this sleep disorder are that one stops breathing during sleep but unfortunately is unaware and one is very sleepy during the day.

Some effects of obstructive can be:

• Morning headaches
• High blood pressure
• Loud snoring
• Excess weight
• Dry mouth upon awakening
• Depression
• Difficulty concentrating
• Heartburn
• Excessive sweating during sleep
• Rapid weight gain
• Restless sleep
• Insomnia
• Reduced libido

Sleep apnea can be life threatening and needs medical attention as soon as possible. If it goes undiagnosed it can cause heart attacks, strokes, an irregular heartbeat and impotence to name a few things.

If you feel like you may have it or a sleep disorder please see a Doctor. A doctor will determine where you have apnea by giving you a sleep test called a polysomnography. There are two types of polysomnograms. One polysomnogram is taken overnight and involves monitoring muscle tension, brain waves, eye movement, respiration and oxygen levels in the blood. The other type of polysomnogram is a home test. You are hooked up to electrodes by a sleep technologist who will tell you how to record your sleep.

If you are found to have a mild case, then this can usually be treated by lifestyle or behavioural changes. Things like losing weight or sleeping on your side will be recommended to you. You may be given an oral device to help reduce snoring and prevent the problem. Even if you do have a mild case you should be aware that this could lead to a moderate or severe case. Sleep apnea is progressive and as you age it can get worse, so trying to overcome it as soon as you can is key.

Moderate to severe cases are usually treated with a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine (C-PAP). More severe cases may involve a Bi-level machine that blows two different air pressures i.e. when the person inhales the pressure is higher than when exhaling.

If treatments do not help, there are surgery options but these are only an option when nothings helps the issue.

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Snoring can sometimes be a moderate problem or it can be considered a very serious problem. Snoring may cause several disorders and it can affect women during the pregnancy. It is directly related to causing sleepless nights and making a person become very irritable during the day due to sleep deprivation. Snoring can also be in the dire zones of sleep apnea, and this could call for a sleep specialist.

Some of the physical reasons for snoring are structural and may be due to narrow jaws, enlarged tongue, or tonsils, enlarged adenoids, a more than normal thick soft palate, a crooked septum or even small nasal passages can cause of snoring. Sometimes, dental implants can also on occasions start snoring issues and a physician or sleep specialist should be consulted if any of these causes are directly snoring related. We all change with age while some of us, so with age, physical problems are able to exacerbate over time into bigger physical issues and eventually cause physical snoring issues.

As we get older and physically change occur that may become a problem with snoring over time, because of muscles of tongue, soft tissues of the back nose and throat area becoming softer and more relaxed overall. As these muscles become weaker with age, the snoring can be more frequent and even overtime move into the danger zone of one of the three main sleep apnea stages that can cause very serious medical concerns for eventual deterioration of your health and wellbeing.

There are some major snoring factors are directly to outside causes and affect the individual, but can also be controlled. These are issues with allergies and sinus problems, consumption of alcohol, sedatives, and excessive or even regular smoking, are all major factors in the disruption of normal sleep patterns that can eventually lead to snoring over time. These factors decrease the lung capacities and directly cause irregular breathing. This is especially true for those who continue with poor health habits even as they age.

Snoring which is extremely loud and then suddenly stops with broken up frequent episodes of short silence to only start again is known as sleep apnea. Very serious episodes can last up to ten seconds and can occur more than seven times per hour. People who are affected with sleep apnea experience such serious episodes from 30 to 300 times per a night. These issues are to be taken very seriously because they are directly tied in with elevated blood pressures and even enlargement of heart may occur. Sleep apnea can become worse with age and are to be discussed with a physician, because of the direct health damage over time. Taking anti snoring treatment becomes important.

Renee Moller researches on snoring related issues and writes on best snoring remedies. Browse for more information on snoring treatment and get back your life.

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A national multi-center study from 2000 confirmed a possible connection between sleep apnea and hypertension (high blood pressure) in both older and middle-aged adults. The study, found those who suffer from moderate to severe cases were at increased risk of hypertension.

The study involved more than 6,000 adult men and women age 40 or older. The presence of the sleep disorder was detected using polysomnography, which simultaneously records brain waves, heart waves, blood oxygen levels, and breathing rate while a person sleeps. A team of technicians visited each participant at home in the evening and measured blood pressure and weight, as well as other health parameters, and then connected the person to a sleep monitor. The average number of breathing pauses per hour of sleep was used to measure the degree of sleep apnea.

“As a result of this study, we now believe that sleep apnea may be one of the reasons why overweight people are at increased risk for high blood pressure,” said lead author Javier Nieto, MD, associate professor, Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. “The connection is important because high blood pressure can lead to serious adverse health consequences, including heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease.”

The results of the study showed that people with more than 30 pauses per hour of sleep were more than twice as likely to suffer from high blood pressure than those with no breathing pauses. An increased risk of high blood pressure was found even at moderate levels of sleep apnea. Since sleep apnea is more common in overweight individuals; additional statistical analysis were conducted to control for body weight and waist circumference. Even after controlling for these variables, however, sleep apnea was associated with an increased frequency of high blood pressure.

The authors of the study stressed that because sleep apnea currently goes undiagnosed in most individuals, the results emphasized the need for increased awareness of this condition by both physicians and patients. Whereas the current study measured sleep apnea and blood pressure levels at the same time, subsequent studies are being planned to look at whether changes in the sleep disorder are related to the onset of hypertension or to fluctuations in blood pressure. The authors also noted that since being overweight can cause this sleep disorder, the study’s results add new urgency to the search for ways of stopping or reversing the obesity epidemic in the United States.

The main conclusion that can be drawn is that we must take the personal responsibility to make changes to our lifestyle that can help us avoid the negative consequences that both of these conditions create. This includes changes to our lifestyle such as proper diet and exercise.

To learn more about hypertension and how it relates to sleep apnea visit sleep.apneacures.info for this and much more, including sleep apnea death.

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According to studies, snoring is a result of heredity, sinus, sleep posture, as well as, body shape and size. It is also possible that an individual may be suffering from a more serious condition such as Sleep Apnea which needs immediate medical attention. Thus, it is best to think about these possibilities and start to make some sleep habits and lifestyle modification.

Studies have shown that the manner by which people snore is relevant to why they snore. Remedies to stop snoring include asking your partner or a relative to record how and when you snore. So for instance, open mouthed snoring is brought about by tissue in the throat. Close mouthed snoring on the other hand is caused by the tongue. And if people snore on their back, then their tongue fall back and causes the loud ruckus. However, if an individual snore no matter what position, then it may be a more complex situation.

Methods on how to stop snoring include clearing your nasal passages before going to bed. Clogged or obstructed nasal passages can often cause snoring. You should also keep away from alcohol and sleep aids before bedtime, since these overly relax the same muscles that bring about snoring.

As previously mentioned, sleeping position causes you to snore. It is much better to sleep on your side rather than on your back, since sleeping on your back may cause narrowing of your airways and obstructing air flow. You can also consider elevating your head, especially if your sinuses are blocked in order to promote clear airways.

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This author writes about Home Remedies To Stop Snoring and Stop Snoring Mouth.

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Open mouthed breathing and vibration in the nasal passages is a result from a partially or totally blocked nose especially when lying down. If this is the case, then you have to find a solution to keep your nose open while you’re sleeping. An ideal way to solve this situation is by using nasal strips.

For people who are experiencing dry mouth upon waking up, or snoring with an open mouth, then the jaw is likely the main reason for snoring. In order to address the problem, chin up strips and other similar gadgets are very useful. It is because in cases like this, the mouths should be kept shut in order to keep the jaw from putting pressure on the throat.

If your tongue falls back during sleep then it may also make you snore, it is because it partially blocks the throat. Good thing, nowadays, there are oral appliances that may help to keep the tongue in place during sleep, but you may also want to consider doing some exercise that will strengthen your tongue muscles.

The one in the throat is possibly the most difficult to snoring obstruction to identify. It is the case wherein soft tissues such as the soft palette might fall down due to gravity, and partially blocking the airways when lying down. Home remedies to stop snoring in this case involves losing some weight or starting singing can be effective.

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This article goes over some of the most common sleep disorders that you can get and what exactly they are.

Sleep Apnea & Snoring

Snoring is something many people do and may seem like it isn’t a problem (well at first anyway).  However snoring may be a sign that one has difficulty keeping their throat open while sleeping and this can lead to it’s more serious companion sleep apnea.  Sleep apnea is a condition where a person stops breathing in their sleep.  This happens repeatedly and many people are unaware that they have this problem.  Sleep apnea can be caused by an obstruction in the upper airway.  This type of apnea is called obstructive sleep apnea and is the most common.  It can also be caused by a failure of the brain to initiate a breath and this type is called central sleep apnea.  This type is very rare and very difficult to diagnose.  Apnea can worsen other medical conditions and also contribute to the develop of some such as high blood pressure, heart failure and diabetes to name a few.

Sleep Paralysis

Sleep paralysis involves the inability to move while going from sleeping to wakefulness.  This is temporary but can be an extremely frightening experience.  Many regular drug users find this can crop up as an issue.  This can also be a symptom of narcolepsy.

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is characterized by 4 symptoms: excessive sleepiness during the day, cataplexy, sleep paralysis and hypnagogic hallucinations.  The daytime sleepiness can be so much that it can cause one to fall asleep in inappropriate situations.  Cataplexy is a loss of muscle tone in response to emotional stimulus.  If you suffer from hypnagogic hallucinations then you will experiencee vivid dream-like visual or auditory sensations.  Generally these hallucinations occur when one is falling asleep.

Restless Legs Syndrome

Many people do not realize that this is in fact a sleep disorder.  It is a neurological movement disorder that causes unpleasant sensations in the legs.  It makes you feel like you need to move and can include sensations of tingling, burning, aches and also like bugs are crawling on your legs.  Many women who are pregnant suffer from this disorder but it isn’t exclusive to them.  It can make falling sleep difficult and it can be hard to rest with as a result of this syndrome.

Circadian Rhythm Disorders

This type of disorder results when a person’s body clock is out of sync with external time cues.  This can occur as a result of jet lag, shift work or delayed sleep phase syndrome.  This mismatch can lead to insomnia.

Insomnia

Insomnia is when one has difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.  If you have insomnia you find it almost impossible to get enough sleep in order to feel rested.  Many teenagers will claim to be insomniacs.

Parasomnias

This type of sleep disorder is characterized by abnormal sleep behaviors.  This can involve unconscious, goal-directed behaviors that have meaning to the person and can include sleep walking, night terrors, sleep eating, sleep sex and also rapid eye movement behavior disorder.  There are many more behaviors that fit under this type of sleep disorder.

Besides the sleeping disorders above there are many others too.  If you find yourself experience excessive tiredness during the day and feel like something is up then it may well worth making a sleep diary and contacting your doctor.

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