US EditionStudy links sleep apnea to damage in brain areas critical for memory
- On May 7, 2025, a study published in Neurology linked obstructive sleep apnea to degeneration in brain regions critical for memory in older adults in the US.
- The study investigated how repeated airway blockage during sleep causes oxygen drops, especially during REM sleep, which may damage small brain blood vessels and lead to degeneration.
- Researchers from University of California Irvine examined 37 cognitively normal participants aged 73 on average, 24 of whom had obstructive sleep apnea, using sleep tracking and brain imaging.
- Lower oxygen saturation below 90% during REM sleep predicted increased white matter hyperintensities and shrinkage of memory-related hippocampus and entorhinal cortex, linked to poorer memory consolidation.
- While the study does not prove causation, it underscores obstructive sleep apnea’s potential role in cognitive decline and supports early diagnosis and treatment to prevent brain damage.
26 Articles
26 Articles
The Avery Journal-Times
Sleep Apnea Linked To Memory-Related Brain Decline
Key Takeaways
Study links sleep apnea to damage in brain areas critical for memory
Obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that causes lower oxygen levels during sleep, is linked to degeneration of brain regions associated with memory through damage to the brain's small blood vessels, according to a study published May 7, 2025, online in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
REM Sleep Apnea Associated with Memory-Related Brain Changes, Study Finds
In a groundbreaking study published on May 7, 2025, in the prestigious journal Neurology, researchers have uncovered a compelling association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and structural degeneration in key brain regions responsible for memory. This discovery sheds light on how oxygen deprivation during sleep, particularly in the rapid eye movement (REM) phase, may contribute to cognitive decline associated with aging and neurological di…
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