Many papers have linked sleep and dementia. Forgetfulness or memory lapse is an early symptom of dementia. Most people delay seeking care as ‘forgetfulness’ is seen as an accepted part of aging and not noticed by the person themselves.
Theories linking poor sleep and memory issues include (i) memory malformation due to lack of slow-wave sleep in sleep apnea1, and (ii) brain protein accumulation and plaque formation2 in insomnia. However, just because there is a correlation between sleep and dementia does not mean poor sleep causes dementia. Science is messy Proving causality over correlation is not easy i.e., ‘many people with dementia have sleep issues’ (correlation) versus ‘sleep issues cause dementia’ (causality).
A study1 appears to go beyond proving causality, providing strong evidence that treating the underlying sleep disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, improves memory issues in 3 months.
Written by: Avinesh S Bhar, MD, a Sleep specialist in Florida