5 WAYS YOUR BRAIN GETS DAMAGED THROUGH SLEEP APNEA

Obstructive Sleep Apnea or OSA is the most common type of sleep apnea and is caused by obstruction of the upper airway. Here are the ways in which untreated OSA affects the brain:

1. The right insular cortex. This is the area of the brain that regulates the autonomic nervous system. The insula also control nerve endings that relate to pain. Both OSA and sleep apnea patients are found to have insular cortex injury.

2. The ventrolateral medulla (VLM). This area of the brain controls breathing and blood pressure regulation. Injury to this area blunts and delays heart rate responses to sudden pressure changes and can potentially cause heart rhythm problems.

3. The cerebellum is the area of the brain that helps adjust blood pressure control and motor coordination, including breathing. Damage to this area prevents the ability to coordinate vascular and motor activity.

4. The hippocampus is found to be significantly smaller in people with obstructive sleep apnea. This area of the brain processes short and long-term memory and spatial navigation.

5. Mammary bodies are important for memory recall, as well as for memory for certain smells. These structures are much smaller in patients with OSA.

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