After doing MRI scans for tissues on the underside of the brain called mammillary bodies, the team discovered 43 disease sufferers had 20 percent smaller mammillary bodies than 66 participants without the disease.
Researchers suggest that the continuing lack of oxygen causes serious brain tissue damage leading to memory loss. Memory problems continue even when patients receive proper sleep apnea treatment, meaning that brain damage is very serious and difficult to recover from.
Sleep apnea patients stop breathing when asleep and often wake up to breathe normally and take oxygen. Breath interruption happens because throat, soft palate and tongue muscles relax, narrowing the passage for air to get inside.
These patients may wake up several times during a night, which creates difficulty in sleeping well. Thus apnea sufferers can often be sleepy during the daytime and have difficulty with remembering and concentration.
Other research has already proven the link between sleep apnea and risk of stroke, heart disease, and diabetes. This new research says that sleep apnea also leads to memory loss.
Reported in the June 27 edition of the journal Neuroscience Letters, the findings emphasize the importance of early detection of the disorder, which afflicts an estimated 20 million Americans.
