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Sleep troubles may increase risk of Alzheimer’s. Sleep troubles have been associated with a variety of health problems including high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. A new study has found that low brain oxygen during sleep, seen in diseases like emphysema and sleep apnea, increases signs of brain damage. “The study analyzed 167 Japanese-American men with an average age of 84 until their death, which was about six years later. The men were divided into four groups based on percentage of time spent with lower-than-normal blood oxygen levels during sleep, with the highest group spending 72 to 99% of the night with low levels, according to a news release. The lowest group only spent 13% of their time with low oxygen levels. The researchers found the men in the highest group were nearly four times more likely to have brain damage that the lowest group. The researchers also concluded that people who spent less time in deep sleep were more likely to have a loss of brain cells compared to people who spent more time in deep sleep, also called slow wave sleep.” Fortunately, sleep apnea is a treatable cause of sleep disruption and emphysema can improve once smoking is stopped. If you’re a snorer, it might be time to get checked out by a sleep doc.
