Apnea and Dementia

"Breathing problems during sleep may be linked to early mental decline and dementia, a new study suggests." Nicholas Bakalar

According to this study of 2,470 people with average age 74 there was a correlation between breathing problems, such as apnea, and dementia.  The good news is that a positive airway pressure machine delayed the onset of dementia.  Those people with breathing problems experienced cognitive impairment ten years sooner than people who did not have breathing problems, but this was not true for those with breathing problems who used breathing machines at night.  If you snore loudly at night and/or are fatigued during the day in spite of spending enough time in bed, you may want to be checked for a sleep disorder.