Sleep apnea is a common curable disorder which causes people to stop breathing momentarily while they sleep and can cause cognitive impairment, even dementia. Various studies have already suggested that sleeping disorders including sleep apnea have a close association with memory loss, especially with dementia.

Consequently, a recent study has claimed that older women living with sleep apnea are more likely to develop dementia as those without the breathing disorder and indicated that people suffering from sleep apnea should be screened for cognitive problems.

To conclude the findings, researchers have analyzed around 298 women for their all kinds of sleep disorders and observed that only breathing problems were strongly associated with an increased risk of developing cognitive impairment. The lead study author, Dr. Kristine Yaffe, Professor of psychiatry, neurology and epidemiology at UCSF said that the study is much stronger than earlier studies.

"The extent of information has been limited before, because the studies were based on people with advanced dementia who, surprise, surprise, had sleep problems. It's been hard to tell what's the chicken and what's the egg”, added Dr. Kristine Yaffe. "What we're seeing is a nearly twofold increase of having cognitive problems five years later”.