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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A long, uninterrupted nights sleep is good medicine for Alzheimers patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
New research shows that when patients were given a steady stream of pressurized air through a mask each night, the length of time they slept was longer. An improvement in cognition was associated with the longer sleep times.
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Obstructive sleep apnea keeps air from getting to the lungs. Its more common in older and overweight people. The pressurized air treatment is called CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure). It prevents the pauses in breathing associated with obstructive sleep apnea and restores normal oxygen levels.
Jana R. Cooke, M.D., Sonia Alcoli-Israel, Ph.D. and colleagues from the University of California, San Diego, authored the study.
The finding implies that the cognitive dysfunction associated with OSA in patients with dementia may be in part an effect of short sleep time, rather than a function of low levels of oxygen during sleep, said Cooke.
Older people with sleep problems are more likely to be depressed and have attention and memory problems. They are also at higher risk for high blood pressure, strokes and heart disease.
Some tips to entice the sandman include, establishing a routine sleep schedule, staying away from substances that disturb sleep like alcohol or caffeine, avoid napping during the day and establish a nightly relaxation routine like a warm bath, a light snack or a few minutes of reading.
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SOURCE: SLEEP 2008, the 22nd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, June 10, 2008
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
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