Startling Effects Sleep Apnea can Have on the Brain

Startling Effects Sleep Apnea can Have on the Brain

sleep apnea

Sleep Apnea

Memory, concentration, and mood, are three key factors a person can take steps every day to improve. Some tips to increase memory retention and improve mood include:

  • Eat the right foods. Be sure to eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, and low amounts of sugars and fried foods. Poultry and fish are the preferred proteins.
  • Drink enough fluids. Your brain is about 70 percent water. When dehydrated, a person’s memory or mood can be affected negatively.
  • Get good sleep. The brain repairs itself and consolidates memories during good, quality sleep. The amount of sleep that each person needs in order to feel good and also to be able to focus during the day varies.

The last tip might be harder for some individuals. Approximately 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, a disorder that can cause someone to stop breathing up to 400 times per night. People who are experiencing interrupted sleep such as this can develop severe problems that disturb their daily lives in a big way.

Recent studies have actually shown that the brain chemistry of some people with sleep apnea is altered. Their levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are low while their levels of glutamate are too high. 

GABA is an amino acid which calms nervous activity, while glutamate has the opposite effect.

Glutamate also plays a key role in learning and memory retention. News-medical.net explains that increased glutamate levels can “become toxic to both neurons and glia, cells that support brain health.”

Since GABA helps to calm nervous activity, decreased levels in the brain can mean heightened levels of stress and anxiety. It can make a person constantly feel overstimulated.

If you are experiencing issues with sleep, contact us today. We can help you start sleeping better and thinking more clearly.