Sleep apnea 'could make memory problems worse'

Although we expect our memory to deteriorate somewhat during old age, new research has shown the problem can be exacerbated if the person in question is suffering from sleep apnea.

Principal researcher Ronald Harper said his study findings "demonstrate that impaired breathing during sleep can lead to serious brain injury that disrupts memory and thinking", Health News reports.

During the research, scientists looked at brain structures called mammillary bodies.

They found that on participants with sleep apnea these bodies were almost 20 per cent smaller in comparison to those who did not have the disorder.

Dr Harper suggested that the drop in oxygen experienced by the patients with sleep apnea may have resulted in permanent brain damage.

He now intends to look at whether taking certain supplements can help to restore memory in patients with sleep apnea.

Elsewhere, research by the Women's International Study of long Duration Oestrogen after Menopause revealed hormone replacement therapy can help women sleep better.

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