SLEEP-DISORDERED BREATHING IN NORMAL AND PATHOLOGICAL AGING

  • 1 October 1986
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 47  (10) , 499-+
Abstract
In a study of sleep-disordered breathing among 139 elderly individuals, sleep apnea (defined as 5 or more apneas per hour) occurred in 34 (41.7%) Alzheimer''s subjects compared with 56 (5.4%) healthy controls, 35 (11.4%) depressive subjects, and 24 (16.7%) patients with mixed symptoms of both cognitive impairment and depression (p < .001). Alzheimer''s patients had a significantly higher proportion of NREM-related than REM-related apnea. Moreover, a significant (p < .01) positive correlation between the apnea index and severity of dementia, as measured by the Blessed Dementia Rating Scale, was found in apnea-positive Alzheimer''s patients, as well as in the entire sample of Alzheimer''s patients (p < .05). No such correlation was found in the mixed-symptoms group. Possible clinical and neuropathologic implications are discussed.

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