Overall, men suffered from sleep apnea more often, but in women aged 60 to 84 the disease was associated with a greater increase in the risk of dementia, the researchers report. In fact, the rate of dementia diagnoses decreased with age among men and increased among women.
It is not known why women with OSA have a greater risk of dementia. Women with moderate sleep apnea may be at higher risk of cardiovascular disease and insomnia, both of which can negatively impact cognitive function.
Co-author and neurologist Galit Levi Dunietz, professor of neurology and sleep medicine at the University of Michigan, suspects that the decreasing estrogen level with the transition to menopause can have consequences for the brain: “During this time, women are more susceptible to memory and sleep problems – and mood swings that can lead to cognitive decline. Sleep apnea increases significantly after menopause but remains underdiagnosed. We need more epidemiological studies to better understand how sleep disorders in women affect their cognitive health.”
