Sleep apnoea affects millions of people and is often associated with loud snoring, disrupted sleep and daytime tiredness. But could it also influence memory and dementia risk?

In this episode of Brain Matters, host Neil Broomfield speaks with sleep scientist Samantha Bramich about a recent Australian study that found people with obstructive sleep apnoea performed worse on memory tests and had a higher burden of dementia risk factors. Together, they unpack what the research found, explore possible links between sleep and brain health, and discuss why it's important to look beyond the headlines.

The conversation also covers common signs of sleep apnoea, current treatment options, and what this study can and cannot tell us about dementia risk.

Listen now to learn more about the role of sleep in brain health and why addressing sleep concerns may be an important step towards supporting your overall wellbeing.

Based on:

Article: Sleep Apnoea Tied to Memory Loss, Dementia Risk in Midlife

Paper: Associations of self-reported obstructive sleep apnea with cognition and dementia risk in cognitively unimpaired middle-aged adults

Brought to you by the ISLAND Project and Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre at the University of Tasmania. To continue the discussion and for more information visit https://island.mooc.utas.edu.au.

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