Sleep Apnea Associated With Alzheimer ’ s Protein Build-Up

BOSTON (CBS) — A new study from the Mayo Clinic finds that people with sleep apnea may have higher accumulations of a toxic protein associated with Alzheimer’s disease in their brains. People with obstructive sleep apnea stop breathing periodically while sleeping which can cause a variety of health issues. Researchers looked at 288 people over 65 without dementia. Those whose bed partners said they stopped breathing while sleeping had a 4 1/2 percent higher level of tau in their brains than people without witnessed sleep apnea. Tau is a protein that clumps in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s which contributes to memory loss. Researchers say it’s still not clear whether the sleep apnea causes tau to build-up or whether the build-up of tau in the brain causes sleep apnea. That will have to be teased out with longer studies.
Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Boston News Health Healthwatch Seen On WBZ-TV Syndicated Local Alzheimer’s Dr. Mallika Marshall Local TV Sleep Apnea Source Type: news