What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?

About Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA):

• OSA is the most common sleep-related breathing disorder.
• People with OSA repeatedly stop and start breathing while they sleep.
• OSA occurs when a blockage in your airway keeps air from moving through your windpipe while you’re asleep.
  • The blockage and lack of airflow can cause your blood oxygen levels to drop, triggering a survival reflex in your brain that wakes you up just enough to breathe again.
  • This happens off and on many times during sleep.
  • While that reflex is key in keeping you breathing, it also disrupts your sleep.
• When your breathing is reduced and you're not taking in enough oxygen, it's called hypopnea. If your breathing completely stops, it's called apnea. 
• Snoring is one of the biggest symptoms of OSA.
• Anyone at any age can have OSA. But it's most common in middle-aged and older adults. 
• OSA has significant implications for cardiovascular health, mental illness, quality of life, and driving safety.
• Treatment: Treatments for OSA are available.
  • One treatment is a device that uses positive pressure to keep the airway open during sleep.
  • Another option is a mouth piece to thrust the lower jaw forward during sleep.
  • In some people, surgery might be an option too.

Q1: What is dementia?

Dementia is a general term for loss of memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia.

Source: Sleep apnea contributes to dementia in older adults