If you snore loudly or struggle to use your CPAP machine, it might be time to take sleep apnea more seriously. A new study has found that moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea is linked to a greater risk of developing microbleeds in the brain — tiny hemorrhages that may contribute to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease later in life.
Published in JAMA Network Open, the study highlights how untreated sleep apnea could accelerate brain aging and cognitive decline.
“Cerebral microbleeds are common as we age, and anything that increases them is relevant to brain aging,” said Dr. Jonathan Graff-Radford, a professor of neurology at the Mayo Clinic, who was not involved in the study.
Microbleeds can increase the risk of stroke and faster memory loss, experts said.
Sleep apnea occurs when the airways become blocked during sleep, often due to relaxed or heavy throat tissues. This disrupts breathing and lowers oxygen levels.
The condition differs from central sleep apnea, where the brain temporarily fails to signal the body to breathe.
Treatments for obstructive sleep apnea include:
- CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machines,
- Oral devices that keep the airway open, and
- Surgery to remove or reduce obstructions.
Dr. Rudy Tanzi, professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, said the findings should motivate both patients and doctors to take sleep apnea screening seriously.
“Don’t ignore it — do something about it,” he said. “It’s not just the short-term risk of poor sleep but also the long-term risk of Alzheimer’s disease.”
He added that the combination of poor sleep quality and potential brain microbleeds is a “double whammy” for brain health, increasing the likelihood of dementia as people age.
When to seek help
Experts recommend consulting a doctor if you or your partner notice:
- Loud, chronic snoring
- Pauses in breathing or gasping for air during sleep
- Daytime fatigue, irritability, or difficulty concentrating
- Night sweats or morning headaches
- Frequent awakenings or teeth grinding
About 30% of people with sleep apnea experience night sweats, and many remain undiagnosed.
While the recent study was observational — meaning it showed a connection but not direct causation — researchers say it adds to a growing body of evidence linking sleep quality and brain health.
“This study urges people to take sleep apnea more seriously,” Dr. Tanzi said. “The damage it causes can be far more severe than you might think.”
