Introduction

A groundbreaking study involving nearly 19,000 participants has uncovered a startling relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and the onset of dementia, revealing that women may be disproportionately affected by this dangerous sleep disorder. This research, led by Dr. Tiffany Braley, an associate professor at the Michigan Neuroscience Institute, highlights the urgent need for further investigations into OSA treatment and its connection to cognitive decline.

Study Overview

The data comes from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), which included 18,815 adults aged 50 and older. Alarmingly, 9% of women and 8% of men in this cohort were found to meet the criteria for dementia. The study identified cases of OSA through self-reports or a positive screening from the widely used STOP-Bang questionnaire, which assesses various medical and demographic factors.

Findings

The findings revealed that the prevalence of known or suspected OSA was significantly higher among men (68%) than women (31%). When examining the cumulative incidence (CI) of dementia, the impact of OSA on cognitive health differed starkly by sex. For individuals aged 60-84, those suffering from OSA showed a considerably higher CI of dementia compared to those without the disorder. The gap in dementia incidence widened with age for women, marking a serious trend as they grow older.

Cumulative Risk