More Dementia in Women with Sleep Apnea

Women with sleep apnea may be more likely to develop dementia, a new study suggests. The study included 298 elderly women. Their average age was 82. They did not have dementia or mild cognitive impairment as the study began. All of the women took part in an overnight sleep study. More than one-third were found to have sleep apnea. They stopped breathing briefly or breathed very shallowly at least 15 times per hour during sleep. Five years later, the women were given tests to measure their thinking and memory. Researchers adjusted those results to account for factors that can affect dementia risk. These include age, education, excess weight, diabetes and smoking. About 45% of the women with sleep apnea had developed dementia or mild cognitive impairment. The rate was 31% among those without sleep apnea. That’s an 85% increase in risk for those with sleep apnea.