Sleep Apnea Snoring Linked to Brain Damage

Snoring can sometimes be caused by Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a serious condition. Now new research suggests that apnea related snoring could also cause brain damage.

The University of New South Wales Brain Sciences Institute found brain chemistry changes in sleep apnea sufferers that were comparable to those in people who have had a severe stroke. The biochemical changes are thought to be a reaction to the reduction in oxygen intake experienced by sleep apnea sufferers.

Professor Caroline Rae of UNSW Brain Sciences said:

"It used to be thought that apnoeic snoring had absolutely no acute effects on brain function but this is plainly not true"