Regularly failing to get a good night’s sleep may increase the risk of dementia by over a quarter
The previous 14 studies say that people with sleep apnoea have a 26 per cent higher risk of developing dementia
REGULARLY failing to get a good night’s sleep may increase the risk of dementia by over a quarter, a major review shows.
Scientists found a link between a sleep disorder that affects 2.5 million Brits and a build-up of harmful plaque in the brain.
Around 4 per cent of middle-aged men and 2 per cent of middle-aged women have sleep apnoea, which means they stop breathing momentarily when they kip.
The treatable condition starves the brain of oxygen, causing damage to blood vessels.
It is also thought to upset the balance of chemicals in the brain that regulate certain proteins. When these build up it causes plaque in the brain, which can lead to Alzheimer’s.
Researchers say doctors should start screening patients for sleep apnoea in a bid to slash dementia rates.
It can be treated with surgery or by wearing a special mask at night.
The analysis of 14 previous studies revealed people with sleep apnoea have a 26 per cent higher risk of developing dementia.
Dr Carol Routledge, from Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “We know that Alzheimer’s proteins can start to build-up over a decade before symptoms appear so it is often difficult to tease apart cause and effect in the relationship between sleep problems and dementia.
“Understanding how sleep disorders could affect our risk of dementia is of great importance, especially if managing these conditions could help to reduce the number of people developing dementia.”
Dr Doug Brown, from the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “Researchers are increasingly finding associations between the early physical signs of Alzheimer’s disease and poor quality sleep, but we don’t know whether poor sleep directly increases your risk of Alzheimer’s.
“As certain sleep disorders can be treatable, the next stage is to test some of these treatments in a controlled research setting to understand whether they could be effective in reducing the risk of dementia.
“It’s important to talk to your GP if you have a sleep disorder and are concerned about your health.”
The findings were presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in London.