Sleep apnea has been linked to a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
In a new study, sleep apnea has been associated with a greater accumulation of tau protein in the brain, which is itself correlated with a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease. “Recent research has linked sleep apnea to an increased risk of dementia, so our study aimed to determine whether sleep apnea could be linked to tau protein deposition in the brain,” the researchers said. in preamble.
“Chicken and Egg Problem”
The study involved 288 people aged 65 and over who did not suffer from cognitive impairment. Their possible respiratory arrests were recorded by their spouse for several nights. It then turned out that 15% of the cohort suffered from sleep apnea, and that these patients had on average 4.5% more tau protein in the entorhinal cortex than the others.
“Our results raise the possibility that sleep apnea affects tau protein accumulation” in the brain, the trial director said. “But it’s also possible that higher levels of tau predispose a person to sleep apnea, so longer studies are now needed to solve this chicken-and-egg problem,” he concludes. .
Deep sleep deprivation
In this regard, another study has also just shown how the level of sleep depth can influence the ability of our brain to effectively eliminate waste and toxic proteins that accumulate during the day. As sleep often becomes increasingly light and disrupted as we age, research potentially explains the links between aging, deep sleep deprivation and increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s disease results from a slow degeneration of neurons, beginning in the hippocampus (a cerebral structure essential for memory) then spreading to the rest of the brain. It is characterized by disorders of recent memory, executive functions and orientation in time and space. The patient gradually loses his cognitive faculties and his autonomy. 900,000 people are affected in France, according to theInserm.
.