Brain Evaluation

Cat Naps can be Restorative

A recent experiment detailed in Neurology Today 1-19-12 reported on a short nap that resulted in stage 2 sleep suggesting benefit of the cat naps.  While not substituting for short sleep it is well known that the 20 minute nap can be a re-vitalizing addition to the day.

 

Sleep Apnea and Cognitive Impairment in the Aged Population

298 elderly women were studied.  Slightly over one-third met the criteria for a sleep disordered breathing problem, sleep apnea.  Over almost five years of following these women diagnosed with sleep apnea, almost fifty percent developed mild cognitive impairment or dementia establishing a cause and effect relationship between sleep apnea and cognitive impairment.  Those diagnosed with sleep apnea should be screened and tested by a neuropsychologist for cognitive deficits.   The likelihood of an association between sleep apnea and functional and structural brain lesions (small vessel changes, circulatory inflammatory factors) is real and at greater risk to occur with long standing sleep apnea.  The suggestion is the risk for the development of cardiovascular dementia when sleep apnea is present.  (Neurology Today, September 1, 2011)