Can Sleep Apnea Cure and Possibly Reverse Brain Fog?

A rather prevalent sleep disorder, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is characterized by bouts of stopped breathing during sleep. When the breathing stops, the oxygen flow to your brain becomes sporadic. This condition is referred to as hypoxia in medical circles. Over time, the intermittent pauses in breathing throughout the night may cause excessive sleepiness during the day and poor cognitive function, otherwise known as brain fog.

While sleep apnea is pretty common, it is by no means normal. If you find yourself in similar conditions, approach a reputable sleep apnea treatment clinic immediately.

What is Brain Fog?

The term brain fog describes a feeling of being mentally sluggish and fuzzy rather than a medical condition. Brain fog is subject to no diagnostic criteria, in fact, it is an umbrella term for when a person is slightly less aware and wakeful than normal. If you experience brain fog you will probably feel a little out of it - not being aware of your surroundings and having difficulty concentrating. This subjective sensation of brain fog can arise from -

● Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

● Stress

● Dietary changes

● Hormonal imbalance

● Side effects from certain medications

Can Sleep Apnea Cause Brain Damage?

Chronic sleep loss deters the brain from receiving the rest it needs. Untreated sleep apnea leads to obstructions that prevent oxygen from being drawn to your airways, and your body is compelled to wake you up in order to restore airflow. A lack of oxygen coupled with repeated awakenings during the night keeps you from getting the restorative sleep that your body and mind need. Under such circumstances, you may find yourself on the receiving end of several problems, ranging from unexplained mood swings to short-term memory loss to mild cognitive impairment

There are a sizeable number of studies that have proved that oxygen deficiency can negatively affect the brain’s grey matter, aka the cerebral cortex, where the majority of the information processing takes place. A malfunctioning cerebral cortex is also likely to impact thinking and memory. That’s not all; dedicated research has also revealed that OSA causes chemical imbalances in the enchepal region.

How Does CPAP Therapy Help Sleep Apnea and Brain Fog?

Every piece of scientific evidence is overwhelming in favor of CPAP therapy's ability to lessen and even reserve the impacts of brain fog. It has been demonstrated that it is p[ossibel to use a CPAP machine to completely eliminate a host of cognitive problems stemming from sleep apnea.

Three months of CPAP therapy as sleep apnea treatment improved memory, attention, and critical thinking, according to a 2011 study. In 2014, researchers discovered that the degradation of white matter had completely reversed in affected areas of the brain after merely a year of CPAP therapy.

When an individual ages, they see a reduction in white and gray matter volume and concentrations in the brain. This change is directly correlated with cognitive function. Simply put, CPAP therapy reverses this loss of brain matter density. Neuroscientists think CPAP therapy can be the answer to age-related cognitive decline and brain fog.

Final Thoughts

At TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of Oklahoma City, we take a multi-disciplinary approach to sleep apnea treatment. Apart from CPAP therapy, NightLase® is our snoring solution of choice. Reach out to us at 405.947.0044 for more information on our services.

**Disclaimer: The information on this page is not intended to be a doctor's advice, nor does it create any form of patient-doctor relationship.