Cognitive decline linked to sleep apnea
of sleep disorders. (Credit: Steve Zylius/UCI)
IN THE NEWS: Obstructive sleep apnea may contribute to early cognitive declines in middle-aged men, a recent study published in Frontiers in Sleep has found. Those declines can occur without the presence of other comorbidities, such as obesity.
UCI Health sleep specialist Dr. Rami Khayat, who was not involved in the study, spoke to Healthline about the importance of diagnosing and treating sleep apnea to prevent impairment of brain function.
“Generally, patients with sleep apnea on treatment have much less worry about cognitive decline than individuals who have undiagnosed or untreated sleep apnea.”
Khayat is medical director of UCI Health Sleep Medicine Services and a nationally recognized leader in the treatment of sleep disorders. He is also a board-certified pulmonologist and critical care specialist. His research addresses the mechanism of cardiovascular disease in sleep apnea and the impact of sleep disorders on the outcomes of patients with heart failure.
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