Untreated Sleep Apnea Hurts Memory

Did you know that "apnea" is Greek for "without breath?"

As such, sleep apnea, known as the involuntary cessation of breathing that occurs while patients are asleep, can lead to a whole other host of health issues if left untreated. Now, recent findings published in the Journal of Neuroscience reveal how the medical problem can harm short-term memory.

"We've shown for the first time that sleep apnea, an increasingly common medical condition, might negatively impact formation of certain memories, even when the apnea is limited to REM sleep," study leader Dr. Andrew Varga, a clinical instructor of medicine in the division of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine at the NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, said in an university's news release reported by WebMD. "Our findings suggest memory loss might be an additional symptom for clinicians to screen for in their patients with sleep apnea."

For the study, researchers recruited 18 people who were diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. All participants were examined while they were asleep for two sessions, separated by roughly two weeks. During one of the two nights, participants were allowed to sleep with their CPAPA machine-a device that treats sleep apnea. Another night, the machines were either turned off or reduced. All participants were also asked to complete a video game maze before and after they slept.

Findings revealed that their medication condition was adversely affected by REM (rapid eye movement) sleep-the deepest level of rest. Any disruptions in this type greatly impacted patient's spatial memory. For example, those who slept without the CPAP machine fully working were more likely to perform worse on the video game maze.

Researchers concluded that those who are not seeking out proper treatment for this health issue should so immediately. The right help could change their life and save their memory, as well.