Life expectancy hit an all-time high in 2009, according to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An American born in 2009 can now expect to live about 78 years and two months, a two month increase compared to 2008. Only 2.4 million Americans died in 2009, an all-time low and the 10th consecutive yearly decrease. As usual, women (80.6 years) had a longer life expectancy than men (75.7 years).
The CDC speculates that vaccinations, public health measures against smoking and better overall medical treatment for the life span improvements. Sleep medicine may be able to share some of the credit.
Deaths from heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes – three diseases commonly associated with sleep apnea - all decreased in 2009. This raises the question, is an increase in awareness and treatment of sleep apnea contributing to these rates and helping Americans live longer?
Research shows that people with untreated severe sleep apnea are more than twice as likely to die. Even moderate cases increase the overall risk of death by 17 percent.
Diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea may prevent countless deaths from heart disease. The pauses in breathing from untreated obstructive sleep apnea can put enormous strain on your heart. Heart disease risks associated with this include coronary heart disease, heart attack and congestive heart failure.
CPAP and other sleep apnea treatments may also slow the development of diabetes. Sleep disorders that disrupt sleep, including but not limited to sleep apnea increases the likelihood of getting diabetes.
Treatment can also limit sleep loss related to sleep apnea, which is a factor in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. CPAP also helps slow the cognitive decline of people with Alzheimer’s.
Think you might have sleep apnea? Find out by scheduling an overnight sleep study for diagnosis. it could save your life in the long run and help.
Note: The average life expectancy in the U.S. is still among the lowest of the developed western nations. The National Research Council reports that the heavy smoking in the past five decades has long figured for the slower growth in life expectancy. The national obesity epidemic is expected to offset the eventual gains from the recent reduction in smoking. Excess body weight a primary risk factor for heart disease and diabetes as well as sleep apnea.
Showing posts with label Alzheimer's disease. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alzheimer's disease. Show all posts
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Monday, November 16, 2009
Deep Sleep: Alzheimer’s, CPAP & OSA
A new study examined the effect of CPAP therapy on sleep in people with obstructive sleep apnea and Alzheimer’s disease.
The study involved 52 adults with OSA and Alzheimer’s disease; they had an average age of 78 years. The effect of CPAP therapy was compared with fake, placebo CPAP. Sleep was measured by overnight sleep study.
Results show that even one night of CPAP therapy had a positive effect on sleep. People in the CPAP group had a lower percentage of stage 1 sleep than the placebo group; they also had a higher percentage of stage 2 sleep.
The AASM reports that stage 1 sleep tends to occur when you first fall asleep and after awakenings during the night. This sleep is very light; a slight sound can wake you up.
It is not as easy to wake you up during stage 2 sleep. During this sleep stage your muscles are more relaxed.
Three weeks of CPAP therapy also provided sleep benefits. Participants spent less time awake during the night after first falling asleep. They had a lower percentage of stage 1 sleep and fewer arousals.
They also had a higher percentage of stage 3 sleep. This is known as “slow-wave sleep” or “deep sleep.”
The authors report that disrupted sleep is common in people with Alzheimer’s disease and OSA. CPAP therapy can help them reach and maintain deeper stages of sleep.
In August the same research team reported that CPAP therapy produced long-term benefits for people with Alzheimer’s disease and sleep apnea. There also is evidence that chronic sleep loss could play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
The AASM reports that OSA can occur in any age group; but it is more common between middle age and older age. The severity of untreated OSA also tends to progress over time.
On SleepEducation.com you can answer these questions to learn more about your risk for sleep apnea. Get help for sleep apnea at an AASM-accredited sleep center near you.
The study involved 52 adults with OSA and Alzheimer’s disease; they had an average age of 78 years. The effect of CPAP therapy was compared with fake, placebo CPAP. Sleep was measured by overnight sleep study.
Results show that even one night of CPAP therapy had a positive effect on sleep. People in the CPAP group had a lower percentage of stage 1 sleep than the placebo group; they also had a higher percentage of stage 2 sleep.
The AASM reports that stage 1 sleep tends to occur when you first fall asleep and after awakenings during the night. This sleep is very light; a slight sound can wake you up.
It is not as easy to wake you up during stage 2 sleep. During this sleep stage your muscles are more relaxed.
Three weeks of CPAP therapy also provided sleep benefits. Participants spent less time awake during the night after first falling asleep. They had a lower percentage of stage 1 sleep and fewer arousals.
They also had a higher percentage of stage 3 sleep. This is known as “slow-wave sleep” or “deep sleep.”
The authors report that disrupted sleep is common in people with Alzheimer’s disease and OSA. CPAP therapy can help them reach and maintain deeper stages of sleep.
In August the same research team reported that CPAP therapy produced long-term benefits for people with Alzheimer’s disease and sleep apnea. There also is evidence that chronic sleep loss could play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
The AASM reports that OSA can occur in any age group; but it is more common between middle age and older age. The severity of untreated OSA also tends to progress over time.
On SleepEducation.com you can answer these questions to learn more about your risk for sleep apnea. Get help for sleep apnea at an AASM-accredited sleep center near you.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Sleep Loss & Alzheimer’s Disease
A new study provides some of the first indications that chronic sleep loss could play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
The researchers analyzed the levels of “amyloid beta” in the brains of mice. Amyloid beta is a protein fragment.
The study reports that the accumulation of amyloid beta in the brain is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease; the mice in the study were genetically engineered to develop the disease.
Results show that brain amyloid beta levels correlated with wakefulness. Levels increased at night when the mice were mostly awake; they decreased during the day when the mice were mostly asleep.
The study also found that brain amyloid beta levels increased during chronic sleep deprivation; mice that stayed awake longer had levels that were 25 percent higher.
“We may need to prioritize treating sleep disorders not only for their many acute effects but also for potential long-term impacts on brain health," senior author Dr. David M. Holtzman said in a Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis news release.
The researchers also report that brain amyloid beta levels increased when they injected orexin into the brains of the mice; the levels decreased when the mice were injected with a drug that blocks the orexin receptors.
Orexin is a protein that helps regulate the sleep cycle; it is also called hypocretin.
"Orexin or compounds it interacts with may become new drug targets for treatment of Alzheimer's disease," said Holtzman.
But orexin inhibitors may not be a viable treatment option, cautions a Science News article. The drugs may cause severe sleepiness.
Research has found that that people with the sleep disorder narcolepsy lack brain cells that make orexin. Narcolepsy involves repeated episodes of excessive daytime sleepiness.
In August the Sleep Education Blog reported that treating obstructive sleep apnea with CPAP therapy may slow the cognitive decline of people with Alzheimer’s disease. OSA is more common between middle age and older age; symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease tend to appear after the age of 60.
Get sleep tips for older adults on SleepEducation.com.
The researchers analyzed the levels of “amyloid beta” in the brains of mice. Amyloid beta is a protein fragment.
The study reports that the accumulation of amyloid beta in the brain is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease; the mice in the study were genetically engineered to develop the disease.
Results show that brain amyloid beta levels correlated with wakefulness. Levels increased at night when the mice were mostly awake; they decreased during the day when the mice were mostly asleep.
The study also found that brain amyloid beta levels increased during chronic sleep deprivation; mice that stayed awake longer had levels that were 25 percent higher.
“We may need to prioritize treating sleep disorders not only for their many acute effects but also for potential long-term impacts on brain health," senior author Dr. David M. Holtzman said in a Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis news release.
The researchers also report that brain amyloid beta levels increased when they injected orexin into the brains of the mice; the levels decreased when the mice were injected with a drug that blocks the orexin receptors.
Orexin is a protein that helps regulate the sleep cycle; it is also called hypocretin.
"Orexin or compounds it interacts with may become new drug targets for treatment of Alzheimer's disease," said Holtzman.
But orexin inhibitors may not be a viable treatment option, cautions a Science News article. The drugs may cause severe sleepiness.
Research has found that that people with the sleep disorder narcolepsy lack brain cells that make orexin. Narcolepsy involves repeated episodes of excessive daytime sleepiness.
In August the Sleep Education Blog reported that treating obstructive sleep apnea with CPAP therapy may slow the cognitive decline of people with Alzheimer’s disease. OSA is more common between middle age and older age; symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease tend to appear after the age of 60.
Get sleep tips for older adults on SleepEducation.com.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
OSA, CPAP & Alzheimer’s Disease
A small study in the Aug. 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine involved 10 older adults with both obstructive sleep apnea and Alzheimer’s disease.
They had an average age of 76 years and a moderate level of dementia. For six weeks they had used CPAP therapy to treat their OSA. Then five of the people continued using CPAP therapy for a year; the other five stopped using CPAP.
Results show that sustained CPAP use produced long-term benefits. People who continued using CPAP remained stable or showed improvement on almost all measures; those who stopped using CPAP continued to deteriorate.
Subjective sleep quality improved significantly in the CPAP group. Their depressive symptoms and daytime sleepiness also stabilized.
The CPAP group also showed less cognitive decline. They showed evidence of improvement in executive functioning; CPAP also appeared to have positive effects on their mental processing speed.
The caregivers of people in the CPAP group also seemed to benefit. Their own sleep quality improved; their mood also remained stable.
According to the NIA, symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease tend to appear after the age of 60. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia among older people. Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning; this involves thinking, remembering and reasoning.
The AASM reports that OSA can occur in any age group; but it is more common between middle age and older age. The severity of untreated OSA also tends to progress over time.
On SleepEducation.com you can answer these questions to learn more about your risk for sleep apnea. Get help for sleep apnea at an AASM-accredited sleep center near you.
They had an average age of 76 years and a moderate level of dementia. For six weeks they had used CPAP therapy to treat their OSA. Then five of the people continued using CPAP therapy for a year; the other five stopped using CPAP.
Results show that sustained CPAP use produced long-term benefits. People who continued using CPAP remained stable or showed improvement on almost all measures; those who stopped using CPAP continued to deteriorate.
Subjective sleep quality improved significantly in the CPAP group. Their depressive symptoms and daytime sleepiness also stabilized.
The CPAP group also showed less cognitive decline. They showed evidence of improvement in executive functioning; CPAP also appeared to have positive effects on their mental processing speed.
The caregivers of people in the CPAP group also seemed to benefit. Their own sleep quality improved; their mood also remained stable.
According to the NIA, symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease tend to appear after the age of 60. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia among older people. Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning; this involves thinking, remembering and reasoning.
The AASM reports that OSA can occur in any age group; but it is more common between middle age and older age. The severity of untreated OSA also tends to progress over time.
On SleepEducation.com you can answer these questions to learn more about your risk for sleep apnea. Get help for sleep apnea at an AASM-accredited sleep center near you.
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