Sleep Apnea and Dementia: New Link Discovered

There are several other things you can do to prevent sleep apnea, Alzheimer’s disease, and other kinds of dementias. The simplest way can be very effective — get up and walk. Try doing it with a friend or a family member. It’s also important to gain social support. Even if you have a low risk of apnea, morning walks can greatly improve your sleep at night. As a remedy for the condition, try wearing a mask over your face and nose at night when you sleep. Make sure the mask doesn’t hinder streams of air from flowing. This treatment is known as CPAP (Continuous positive airway pressure). This can be uncomfortable but is very effective for relieving your symptoms. Experts say that the link shows that properly handling sleep apnea can slow the development of the early stages of the disease. If you think that your breathing problems during sleep are impacting your memory and thinking, discussing this with your doctor is recommended.