Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Dad and I happened to tune into the Tony Awards. Amid watching the wonderful musical performances and hearing heart-felt speeches, there was one especially moving moment. David Hyde Pierce, the actor who is best known for his portrayal of Dr. Niles Crane on the TV show &ldquo...
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a strong contender for the cause of Alzheimer's Disease. In my opinion, as a neurologist who has OSA, evidence is mounting to support this concept. We know that OSA is a risk for diabetes and high blood pressure. Both are risks for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) which is early dementia. Sixty percent of MCI patients will eventually develop AD. Therefore, OSA causes AD.
Bottom line: Have a sleep test and treat with a PAP machine when positive for OSA, even if MCI or dementia is already present. A recent study showed even Alzheimer's patients can improve significantly on PAP treatment.
(warning: there is up to a 25% false negative rate in some accredited sleep labs).