Sleep Apnea: The Silent Risk Hiding in Plain Sight

Sleep Apnea and the Brain

Most people associate sleep apnea with snoring or feeling tired during the day. But what many don’t realize is that untreated sleep apnea can silently affect your entire body—and even increase your risk for dementia, stroke, heart disease, depression, and diabetes.

It’s not just a sleep issue. It’s a whole-body issue. And the scary part?. About 30% of Americans have sleep apnea.  Most people who have it are unaware that they have sleep apnea.

How Sleep Apnea Affects the Brain

When you have obstructive sleep apnea, your airway closes off while you sleep. Your oxygen drops. Your brain briefly wakes you up—over and over again—all night long. You may not remember it happening, but your body and brain certainly do.

This constant interruption leads to:

• Less REM sleep, which is critical for memory and emotional processing

• Less deep slow wave sleep, when your brain clears out waste (like amyloid and tau proteins, which are linked to Alzheimer’s disease)

• Repeated drops in oxygen, which trigger inflammation, oxidative stress, and damage to blood vessels in the brain

Over time, all of this puts you at risk for cognitive decline and dementia. And because these changes happen slowly, many people don’t connect the dots until the damage is well underway.

It’s Not Just the Brain

Sleep apnea increases your risk for:

• High blood pressure

• Heart disease and stroke

• Type 2 diabetes

• Depression and anxiety

• Daytime fatigue and accidents

You may go years thinking your symptoms are just from stress or getting older. But sometimes, it’s as simple—and serious—as your body struggling to breathe at night.

Sleep Apnea is a Modifiable Risk Factor for Dementia

A Real Patient Story

I had a patient in his 60s who came to me with a combination of symptoms—his wife complained that she thought he would stop breathing while he was sleeping at night, he experienced headaches, fatigue during the day, and some memory issues. He assumed it was simply due to aging and stress. But I asked him a simple question: “Have you ever been screened for sleep apnea?”He hadn’t.

We went through the STOP-BANG questionnaire, and his results showed a high risk. I ordered a home sleep study, and sure enough, it was positive. Once he started treatment, the transformation was remarkable. His headaches improved, he had more energy, his thinking got sharper, and over time, he even lost weight.

That’s the power of treating the root cause. Sometimes we treat sleep apnea and see a ripple effect across a person’s entire health.

Could You Have Sleep Apnea?

The STOP-BANG questionnaire is a straightforward method for assessing risk. Ask yourself:

S – Do you snore loudly (louder than talking or heard through a door)?

T – Do you often feel tired during the day?

O – Has anyone observed you stop breathing in your sleep?

P – Do you have high blood pressure?

B – Is your BMI over 35?

A – Are you age 50 or older?

N – Is your neck circumference over 16 inches (women) or 17 inches (men)?

G – Are you male (or postmenopausal without hormone therapy)?

If you answered yes to 3 or more, it’s time to talk to your doctor.

What You Can Do

A sleep study—often done at home—is the first step. And if it turns out you do have sleep apnea, don’t worry. There are effective treatments, including:

• CPAP or APAP machines

• Oral appliances (custom dental devices)

• Positional therapy

• And sometimes, weight loss or lifestyle changes

These treatments don’t just improve your sleep—they protect your brain, your heart, and your long-term health.

Final Thoughts

Sleep is not just rest—it’s recovery. When your brain doesn’t get that time to recharge, everything suffers. If you’re waking up tired, struggling with focus, or just don’t feel like yourself, don’t ignore it. What seems like a small issue—like snoring—could be a major red flag your body is trying to send.

Get tested. Get treated. And give your brain a chance to breathe.