When the seasons shift, our bodies respond.
Right now, as daylight hours continue to dwindle, the production of hormones such as melatonin and serotonin start to change, influencing our sleep patterns and energy levels. Our bodies, following their ancient rhythms, want to slow down, creating a natural period of renewal before spring’s return.
So it’s more than a little ironic that the upcoming holiday season is, for many of us, one of the busiest times of the year. In fact, right now, you may be preparing for Thanksgiving travel or hosting a feast in your own home. You may be more active with church or volunteer activities to provide for people in need. You may even be getting things ready for the winter holidays yet to come.
We know it’s a busy time. So this month’s post will be short and sweet. We just want to share some compelling new sleep apnea research that’s come out of the University of Michigan.
Published in SLEEP Advances, the study analyzed data from over 18,000 older American adults who participated in the Health and Retirement Study. The results showed that while obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) raised the risk of dementia overall, the risks appeared to be greater for women.
At every age level, women with known or suspected sleep apnea were more likely than men to be diagnosed with dementia.
In fact, the rate of dementia diagnosis decreased among the men and grew larger for the women as they aged.
While the study can’t say why this is so – it wasn’t designed to do that – the authors suggest it could be tied to the fact that women with moderate OSA also have a higher risk of heart disease and insomnia, both of which can affect cognitive function.
What’s more, “Estrogen starts to decline as women transition to menopause,” says study co-author Galit Levi Dunietz,
which can impact their brains. During that time, they are more prone to memory, sleep and mood changes that may lead to cognitive decline. Sleep apnea increases significantly post-menopause yet remains underdiagnosed.
If you have – or suspect you may have – sleep apnea, perhaps the best gift you could give yourself this holiday season is to get it checked out. Have a sleep test. If it’s positive for apnea, give us a call to find out which CPAP alternative may be the best option for you.
Your taking good care of your health is a gift to your loved ones, as well, after all.
But first, however you choose to celebrate – or not celebrate – Thanksgiving, we wish you a festive, fun, and safe holiday weekend!