Women with sleep apnea more damage brains

Women with sleep apnea have a higher risk of brain damage than men with the same sleep disorder. Those Researchers from the University of California in the scientific journal Sleep.

In Sleep apnea causes breathing at night very often, so the oxygen level in the body decreases again. If left untreated, it can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, heart problems, depression and other serious health problems. The brain cells can be damaged.

White matter
the researchers compared the white matter in the brains of patients with apnea of people without sleep. Women with sleep apnea were more brain damage than male apnea patients. In particular, the cingulum and the anterior cingulate cortex were affected: brain areas front the brain that have to do with making decisions and your mood. Women with apnea faced more frequently with depression and anxiety.

Cause
Why are women with sleep apnea often brain damage occurs is still unclear. "What we do not know is whether sleep apnea caused brain damage or damaged brains lead to sleep. The other comorbidities, such as heart disease and depression, were brain damaged spots can cause, which leads to sleep apnea," says researcher Paul Macey .