In January 2019 researchers from Republic of Korea published the results of their study to assess whether sleep-disordered breathing is associated with significant cognitive decline, such as Alzheimer’s disease. A total of 727 individuals who were diagnosed with sleep-disordered breathing and 3,635 without sleep-disordered breathing were included in the study. Results showed that individuals with sleep-disordered breathing were more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than those without sleep-disordered breathing. The researchers concluded by highlighting the importance of interventions to raise awareness of sleep-disordered breathing and the need for government support to reduce the barrier in accessing appropriate treatment.
Lee JE et al. Sleep-disordered breathing and Alzheimer’s disease: A nationwide cohort study. Psychiatry Res. 2019 Jan 28;273:624-630 [Epub ahead of print]