If you’re frequently tired and you frequently forget things,
it might not just be lack of sleep catching up to you. HealthDay recently
reported that patients with advanced sleep apnea
demonstrate difficulties with spatial memory skills.
Spatial memory refers to the ability to recall the layout of
an environment and the orientation of objects therein. This type of memory
makes it possible to remember everything from where you left your wallet in the
house to the route you take to drive across town.
Researchers at NYU recently discovered that sleep apnea
patients who stop breathing during the deep stage of sleep called the REM cycle
tend to suffer disruption to spatial memory, making it more difficult to
remember things like the location of a parking space. Given their findings, the authors of the study encouraged doctors to check for signs of memory loss in patients who have
sleep apnea.
If you find yourself forgetting things more and more, speak
to a doctor as soon as possible. A memory loss screening could involve several
different tests, including:
- An assessment of the patient’s medical history
- A physical exam
- Tests of neurological abilities
- Questionnaires to gauge memory and other mental faculties
A sleep study is necessary to determine whether or not you
suffer from sleep apnea. Apnea can compromise the health and function of many
parts of the body, so diagnosis followed by treatment could restore many
aspects of your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Please contact
a sleep apnea physician in your area or call 1 (866) 727-6275 (1-8-NO-PAP-MASK)
today for more information.