Obstructive sleep apnea linked to higher Alzheimer’s risk
By Maria Cohut | Published Friday 10 November 2017 | MedicalNewsToday.com Fact checked by Jasmin Collier A new study has demonstrated that older adults who experience obstructive sleep apnea may be at increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. This is because they exhibit higher levels of amyloid beta, the chief component of the amyloid plaques that characterize the disease. Obstructive sleep apnea is characterized by the occasional inability to breathe while asleep, due to a collapse of the airway. This may cause the sleeper to wake up repeatedly during the night whenever breathing becomes difficult, resulting in disturbed sleep patterns. Recent data suggest that in the …