Study Shows Loss in Brain Function

Researchers have been looking into the exact effects of sleep apnea on various functioning systems of the body, within various age groups and demographics. According to a study released in June 2014, there is evidence showing sleep apnea is associated with neurocognitive dysfunction in adult Hispanic women. The study calculated the statistical significance of these irregularities and only Hispanic women had a significant amount of neurocognitive function loss. It is important for people of every age, population, demographic, and more to take care of their sleep apnea before further irreversible side effects come about.

The study conducted in the department of clinical neurology at the University of Miami analyzed 9,714 Hispanic men and women between the ages of 45 and 74. Dr. Alberto Ramos conducted the study to “determine the extent to which sleep apnea contributes to neurocognitive dysfunction in a representative sample of Hispanic men and women residing in the United States.” After adjustment for covariates, only Hispanic women were associated for neurocognitive dysfunction.

They chose to research a specific population because prior to 2010, very little sleep research had been conducted on U.S. Hispanics. The National Institute of Health says, “based on the available literature and the high prevalence of risk factors in Hispanics, such as obesity, diabetes, living in the inner city, and use of alcohol, the prevalence of such important sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea and sleep habits such as poor sleep hygiene are suspected to be high.”

Dr. Ramos administered neurocognitive tests to mark information such as learning, recall, word fluencies, and more. Although the correlation has not been proven, dementia prevalence is on the rise among Hispanics and Latinos compared to other populations.

Becoming aware of your sleep problems and diagnosing sleep disorders can save your live and prevent major health problems. Educate yourself about these disorders and schedule an appointment to see if you have a disorder. Take care of your body and your future with a sleep study from FusionSleep.