Does Snoring Have an Elevated Risk of Causing Alzheimer’s Disease?

Even if you don’t snore, there must be someone that you know snores. Nearly 20% to 40% adults snore and the statistics are higher for both men and women snoring as they age. However, writing it off as just annoyance isn’t right for the bed partners and others, as according to new research, snoring could be affecting the brain. 

A recent sleep apnea and snoring study underscored how there could be a correlation between difficulties sleeping and an elevated risk of Alzheimer’s disease.  Research studies have shown that cause of sleep apnea or chronic snoring issues the brains of individuals had elevated levels of beta-amyloid plaques, an indication of Alzheimer’s disease.  Many scientists had suspected for some time that there was a link between sleeping disorders and the disease.

According to RMIT University (Australia) professor Stephen Robinson who authored the research above, this study “is the first to find Alzheimer’s-like amyloid plaques in the brains of people with clinically-verified obstructive sleep apnea” and chronic snoring.  Chronic snoring associated with sleep apnea during mid-life elevates the risk of a person developing Alzheimer’s when they get older.  Furthermore, if an individual has the disease, they are more likely to have sleep apnea than others their age.

Details of the Study

During the study, researchers compared the brains of 34 deceased individuals who had died from the disease with 24 brains of individuals with sleep apnea.  The study showed that amyloid plaques were present in the same areas of the brain that were affected by the disease, including the hippocampus.  Additionally, the researchers claimed that the more severe sleep apnea was, the higher the number of amyloid plaques that were present in the brain.

In addition to daytime drowsiness and fatigue, an inability to concentrate, and waking up with headaches, chronic snoring has been linked to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension (high blood pressure).  Interrupted sleep attributed to chronic snoring has also been linked to forgetfulness and memory issues.  One of the reasons for the correlation between interrupted sleep and memory issues is that chronic snoring is associated with low blood oxygen levels and a reduced supply of oxygen to the brain.

Alzheimer’s Disease Statistics

The Alzheimer’s Association annual report “Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures’ ‘ details and statistics regarding the consequences of the disease and Dementia on the individual, their caregivers, the government, and the US healthcare system.  An accompanying report regarding the diagnosis of MCI or mild cognitive impairment estimates that 10% to 15% of individuals afflicted with this have gone on to develop Dementia within a year from their diagnosis.  Here are some quick facts:

• 1 out of every 3 seniors will die from Alzheimer’s or some form of Dementia, more than the number of individuals who will die of breast and prostate cancer combined.
• 10.7% or 1 in 9 Americans 65 years of age or older has Alzheimer’s, almost 2/3 of which are women.
• Compared to older whites, older blacks are twice as likely and older Hispanics are 1.5 times as likely to develop Alzheimer’s or other forms of Dementia.
• COVID-19 was responsible for a 17% increase in the number of deaths attributed to Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
• In 2022, it these diseases will cost the US $321 billion; estimates show the cost could reach almost 1 trillion by 2050.
• Over 11 million individuals in the US currently provide unpaid care for Alzheimer’s and Dementia patients.  Caregivers in 2021 provided 16 billion hours of care at a cost of nearly $272 billion.
• Over 6 million Americans have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s; by 2050, it’s estimated that it will be nearly 13 million.

As the older American population increases dramatically, so too does the number of new Alzheimer’s cases.  As a result, it’s been projected that 12.7 million Americans will be living with the disease by 2050.

The Consequences of Interrupted Sleep due to Chronic Snoring

During deep sleep, the brain’s glymphatic system or network of waste disposal channels flush away its accumulated waste.  This system is also essential for disposing of toxic protein beta-amyloids which exist in the brain of Alzheimer’s patients.  Consequently, those Individuals who suffer with interrupted sleep due to chronic snoring typically don’t get enough deep sleep.  This results in:

• concentration difficulties
• daytime tiredness
• memory problems
• poor cognitive performance
• reduced ability to stay alert

Additionally, chronic snoring, whether attributed to sleep apnea or not, prevents your brain from getting deep or “slow wave” sleep which is when the glymphatic system is able to perform at its peak. In adults, the disruptions in sleep can lead to both short-term and long-term consequences including somatic pain, emotional distress, higher stress responsivity, mood swings and cognitive deficiencies. 

Treating Chronic Snoring

Usually, if you are a heavy snorer, you cannot stop snoring overnight. Despite advances in medical science, there is no 100% cure for snoring that is effective for everyone. Although snoring can be alleviated with the use of OTC remedies like Asonor anti-snoring nasal spray, chin straps and nasal strips, but oftentimes, these may not work for everyone. Then you’d need to consult with a sleep therapist or a doctor to find out that there is more to it than the snores. 

If you suffer with the consequences of chronic or habitual snoring and you’ve decided to speak with a doctor about it, he or she will most likely recommend a handful of lifestyle changes – before prescribing a CPAP machine, oral appliances, or surgery – including:

• avoiding alcohol before bedtime
• losing weight
• nasal congestion treatments
• not sleeping on your back
• quitting smoking

In addition to these lifestyle changes, we recommend an anti snoring solution such as Asonor.  Asonor Anti-snoring Solution has been proven to reduce snoring in 3 out of every 4 cases studied.  In other words, it worked for 75% of the individuals who tried it.  
To learn more about our amazing product, visit our website or email us with any questions you may have.