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A recent study published online by the journal Neurology suggests that brain size my be affected by lack of sleep.
In a study involving 147 adults, ranging in ages of 20 years old to 84 years old, the link between sleep problems such as sleep apnea and the volume of the participants’ brains were examined by researchers. A scan was taken of each participant’s brain, and they were asked to complete a questionnaire about their sleep habits. A second brain scan was taken approximately three and a half years after the first one.
Results from the questionnaire showed that 35% of participants qualified as having unhealthy sleep patterns, according to the study’s criteria. It was also shown that the participants with sleep problems saw a more rapid decline in the volume or size of their brains over the study’s time period than the participants who consistently slept well.
For those participants who were older than 60 years old, the results were even more significant.
Numerous studies have shown how important sleep is and how the brain can be effected by sleep deprivation. It is very well known, in fact, that poor sleep pattens contribute to brain disorders like Alzheimer’s and dementia.
It is a logical and natural conclusion that if memory loss can be caused by lack of sleep, that the volume and size of the brain could also be affected by sleep deprivation.
According to Dr. Neal Maru, neurologist and sleep specialist with Integrated Sleep Services located in Alexandria, Virginia, is it a well known fact that all kinds of problems can result from lack of sleep. He also stated that memory, the immune system, weight and cardiovascular heath can all be affected by poor sleep, although the specific reasons are not known yet.
One potential cause is, it is has been shown in studies that lack of sleep may cause protein to build up in the brain, which in turn attacks brain cells.
According to Clair Sexton, one of the authors of the University of Oxford study, it is not yet known whether or not poor sleep quality is a cause or consequence of brain structure changes.
She also explains that additional research is needed to determine whether improving the quality of sleep for an individual will slow down low brain volume rate. If that is true, then an effective way of improving brain health may be to use effective treatments for improving sleep habits.
Dr. Maru is in agreement with the fact that it isn’t known which of these comes first: whether the sleep problem is what causes brain atrophy or whether brain atrophy is the cause of the sleep problem.
Shine Dental Associates is proud to offer sleep apnea treatment for patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea. Our Board-Certified Periodontist, Vikas Mittle DDS, provides custom-fitted oral appliance therapy for patients with obstructive sleep apnea.
For more information about our sleep apnea treatment give us a call at (516) 348-8500.
Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition which means that your breathing temporarily stops while you are asleep. Loud snoring is often a sign of sleep apnea, and many people who suffer from sleep apnea report that while they think they slept well, they do not feel refreshed when they wake up.
People with un-treated sleep apnea tend to experience frequent periods of very shallow breathing, or even periods of 10-20 seconds where they stop breathing during the night. If these episodes are allowed to continue over prolonged periods of time, they can increase your risk of suffering from a stroke or a heart attack. Even if the sleep apnea itself does not become dangerous, the interrupted sleep patterns can lead to stress, high blood pressure, weight gain and other problems.
Some people can manage their sleep apnea simply by losing weight and purchasing a better pillow, but others require more specialist treatment. There are dental devices available that can help patients to manage their sleep apnea. These dental devices are made in a similar fashion to athletic mouth guards, and while they look unpleasant to wear most of our patients report that once a device has been fitted correctly it is quite comfortable and helps them get a good night’s sleep.
The most common dental devices that we at Shine Dental Associates use to treat sleep apnea are tongue retaining devices and the mandibular repositioning dental device. Both of these devices follow similar purposes, helping to open the airway so that breathing is not interrupted during sleep.
Some people find that they experience soreness when using a dental device; if this happens to you talk to your dentist so that they can adjust it. We recommend that our patients have their devices adjusted a couple of times a year for maximum comfort and effectiveness.
Sleep…. its the most important thing you do in your life! In fact, you spend 1/3 of your life sleeping. Proper sleep is very important for your health. Proper sleep allows you to have more energy, exercise more, increase in sexual libido and eat healthier. Lack of sleep can be detrimental to your health.
Sleep apnea is not having proper sleep in the middle of night. The airway gets obstructed and you wake up many times in the middle of the night resulting in poor sleep.
Shine Dental can help…