Health Sector – UHC, National Health Policy, Family Planning, Health Insurance, etc.

Sleep Apnea contributes to Dementia in older adults

Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields
Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

Why in the News?

A recent study from Michigan Medicine found that Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a common sleep disorder, increases the risk of dementia (loss of cognitive functioning) in adults, especially in women.

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?

  • OSA is a sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep due to blocked airways.
  • It is marked by episodes of disrupted or restricted breathing, leading to brief awakenings throughout the night.
  • Symptoms include loud snoring, gasping for air, morning headaches, and daytime drowsiness.
  • Risk Factors: Common in individuals who are overweight, have large tonsils or suffer from nasal congestion.
    • In India, approximately 10.4 lakh people are reported to suffer from OSA, as per government data.
    • Untreated OSA is associated with various health risks, including heart disease, diabetes, and cognitive decline.

Recent Findings on OSA and Dementia Risk

  • A study from Michigan Medicine found a link between OSA and increased dementia risk, especially in older adults over 50.
    • Women with known or suspected OSA were found to have a higher likelihood of developing dementia compared to men, with dementia diagnoses increasing as women age.
  • Another study by NIMHANS focused on the link between stroke and OSA.
    • 105 stroke patients over the age of 50 were studied using polysomnography (PSG), which tracks brain waves and sleep breathing patterns.
    • Results showed that 88% of stroke patients had sleep apnea soon after their stroke, with 38% having severe OSA.

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