Sleep apnea syndrome (also called “obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome” or OSAHS in medical jargon) is manifested by repeated and uncontrolled interruptions of breathing during sleep.
At least 30% of French people aged 65 and over are affected. Sleep apnea is twice as common in men than in women, and it can have serious repercussions on health: chronic fatigue, daytime sleepiness, cardiovascular disorders …
And according to a new study from RMIT University (in Australia), sleep apnea could also be responsible for our memory lapses … To reach this conclusion, the Australian researchers worked with 44 patients suffering from apnea untreated sleep and 44 healthy volunteers.
Sleep apnea, memory impairment and depression
Verdict? They found that people with sleep apnea (and not receiving treatment) had more difficulty remembering certain details of their own lives. Semantic memory (which concerns the first names of people you meet, for example) was particularly affected.
“It is not surprising that sleep apnea has an impact on autobiographical memory: previous studies have shown that this syndrome causes a loss of gray matter at the level of the brain areas associated with memory, analyzes Dr. Melinda Jackson , main author of these works published in the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society. Furthermore, we know that good quality sleep is necessary to consolidate autobiographical memory, in particular semantic. “
According to the researchers, these memory losses could also promote depression in people with sleep apnea, and especially in seniors. Do you think you are affected? Talk to your doctor!
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