Health experts warn of three key symptoms which may appear when waking up
Medical professionals have warned that three warning signs upon waking could indicate you’re at heightened risk of dementia. A fairly widespread sleep disorder, believed to impact 10 million people across Britain, can briefly starve the brain of oxygen – potentially triggering cognitive deterioration.
Research published in the Nature Communications journal during 2022, established a connection between obstructive sleep apnoea and heightened dementia risk. Scientists from Australia’s University of Queensland discovered a direct link between reduced brain oxygen levels during sleep and neurodegenerative conditions.
Study author Professor Elizabeth Coulson explained: “We found sleep deprivation alone in mice caused only mild cognitive impairment. But we developed a novel way to induce sleep-disrupted breathing and found the mice displayed exacerbated pathological features of Alzheimer’s disease.
“It demonstrated that hypoxia – when the brain is deprived of oxygen – caused the same selective degeneration of neurons that characteristically die in dementia.” However, the study did not confirm how varying degrees of hypoxia affect the risk of developing the disease.
The research, however, did not establish how different levels of oxygen deprivation influence disease development risk. Human trials were due to begin investigating the link between oxygen deprivation and mental decline, reports Surrey Live.
Professor Coulson explained: “It’s estimated around 50 percent of elderly people have obstructive sleep apnoea when their throat muscles intermittently collapse and block the airway during sleep causing their breathing to stop and start.”
Sleep issues
The Sleep Apnoea Trust estimates that up to 10 million Brits are living with the most prevalent type of the disorder, known as Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) – with as many as four million experiencing severe or moderate symptoms. Yet countless cases remain undetected.
It notes: “In Britain it is estimated that up to 10 million adults are affected by Obstructive Sleep Apnoea and 4 million have life changing symptoms, such as excessive sleepiness during waking hours. Only approximately 700,000 are currently diagnosed.”
Signs
The most common signs include frequent snoring, gasping for air, and silent breathing pauses that may last seconds to minutes. However, more obvious signs may emerge when “waking up”.
According to WebMD, these include:
- Waking up with a very sore or dry throat
- Morning headaches
- Dizziness when you wake up
The NHS describes sleep apnoea as a disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts throughout the night. Whilst individual episodes are unlikely to pose immediate danger, failing to address the condition can trigger more severe complications.
Professor Coulson emphasised that not all individuals with obstructive sleep apnoea will necessarily develop dementia. “Some dementia clinicians have reported their patients’ memory has improved after their sleep problems were identified and treated,” she said.
Currently, the most effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea is a continuous positive airway pressure machine (CPAP). The device functions by maintaining an open airway throughout sleep, ensuring oxygen can reach the brain.
Scientists believe this equipment could potentially lower dementia risk in sleep apnoea patients. “We couldn’t fit CPAP to mice, but we experimentally prevented the hypoxia and this stopped the cognitive impairment and neuron death, and also reduced the Alzheimer’s pathology,” Professor Coulson said. This suggests that CPAP treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea has the potential to reduce dementia risk.”
The condition is also associated with additional health complications, including high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. This occurs because sleep apnoea causes blood oxygen levels to drop dramatically when breathing stops, raising pressure within blood vessels.
The NHS advises consulting your GP if you experience any of the primary symptoms of sleep apnoea, including:
- Your breathing stops and starts while you sleep
- You make gasping, snorting or choking noises while you sleep
- You always feel very tired during the day
