Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition in which you can’t breathe normally during sleep because of the upper airway obstruction. Many older adults are at high risk for OSA, which lead to a variety of health problems.
A recent study found out that older adults (65+) who received positive airway pressure therapy, prescribed for obstructive sleep apnea, were less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia over the next 3 years. It’s a helpful finding isn’t it? It gives us a tool to help older people not only with OSA but also with maintaining brain health.
Just a reminder: positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy is a treatment that uses a stream of compressed air to support the airway during sleep. You need to wear a mask during sleep. A portable machine gently blows pressurized room air into your upper airway through a tube connected to the mask. In this way your airway stay open, allowing you to breath normally thoughout the night.
Curious? HERE is the source