Heavy Snorers and Alzeimer’s Risk

Heavy snorers have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers discovered that a reduced flow of oxygen to the brain can cause Alzheimer’s – and that those who snore heavily are among those most at risk.

The research also means people who have had strokes, heart attacks or head injuries are vulnerable to Alzheimer’s in later life and that even if they make an apparently full recovery it could have repercussions decades later.

Prof.  Chris Peers  said, “We are looking into what happens when oxygen levels in the brain are reduced by a number of factors, from long-term conditions like emphysema and angina, to sudden incidents such as a heart attack, stroke or even head trauma.
“Even though the patient may outwardly recover, the hidden cell damage may be irreversible.
“It could even be an issue for people who snore heavily, whose sleep patterns are such that there will be times in the night when their brain is hypoxic – deprived of sufficient oxygen.
“It can be anything that stops the heart and lungs working together to their optimal capabilities.”
Prof Peers looked at the damage done by low-oxygen incidents to a group of brain cells called astrocytes. When the brain is functioning normally, it makes connections through the release of tiny amounts of chemical across the synapses. The chemical is then “mopped up” by the astrocytes.
Research shows that if the astrocytes have become hypoxic at some point they are less able to mop up the residual chemicals, allowing them to accumulate and become toxic.
It is these toxic chemicals which can cause Alzheimer’s.
Prof. S. Sorensen, head of research, the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “The team examined the role of cells that support neurones in the brain.
“This is exciting because rather than focusing on neurones they looked at processes in the brain, which until now have not be researched in so much detail.”
Alzheimer’s disease accounts for more than half of the 700,000 people in the UK who suffer with dementia. It is predicted that the number of people with dementia will more than double by 2050 because people are living longer.
Alzheimer’s is a fatal and incurable brain disease which can take 30 years to develop. Beyond the age of 65 the chances of developing the disease doubles every five years.