Heavy snorers have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, scientists have found.Researchers discovered that a reduced flow of oxygen to the brain can cause Alzheimer's - and that people who snore heavily are among those most at risk.
The Leeds University research also means people who have had strokes, heart attacks or head injuries are vulnerable to Alzheimer's in later life.
Even if they make an apparently full recovery at the time, scientists have found, it could have repercussions decades later.
The scientist who led the research, Professor Chris Peers, of the university's School of Medicine, said: "We are looking into what happens when oxygen levels in the brain are reduced by a number of factors, from long-term conditions like emphysema and angina, to sudden incidents such as a heart attack, stroke or even head trauma.
"Even though the patient may outwardly recover, the hidden cell damage may be irreversible.
"It could even be an issue for people who snore heavily, whose sleep patterns are such that there will be times in the night when their brain is hypoxic - deprived of sufficient oxygen. It can be anything that stops the heart and lungs working together to their optimal capabilities."
Link: DailyMail
Image: Flickr
Tags: Snoring | Alzheimer
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