By Neuroscience News
A new study reveals a potential link between sleep apnea, reduced time in deep sleep, and brain biomarkers associated with increased risk of conditions like stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and cognitive decline.
This research involved 140 people with obstructive sleep apnea and primarily focused on biomarkers related to the health of the brain’s white matter.
Participants with severe sleep apnea displayed a higher volume of white matter hyperintensities (small lesions visible on brain scans) and reduced axonal integrity.
Participants with severe sleep apnea displayed a higher volume of white matter hyperintensities (small lesions visible on brain scans) and reduced axonal integrity.
The study stresses that sleep disturbances are not definitively the cause of these brain changes, but the correlation warrants further investigation.