Sleep Apnea and Dementia: Is Your Night-Time Breathing Affecting Your Brain? March 19, 2026 Brain Awareness Week: Why Sleep Deserves Attention This week is Brain Awareness Week — a global initiative dedicated to protecting and promoting brain health. While we often focus on puzzles, diet, and exercise when we think about keeping our brains sharp, there’s one crucial factor that’s sometimes overlooked: sleep. More specifically, untreated sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. These pauses can happen dozens — even hundreds — of times per night.1 While many people associate sleep apnea with loud snoring and daytime fatigue, growing research suggests its impact may extend much further, including to long-term brain health.1 What the Research Shows Recent studies have found that people with sleep apnea have a higher risk of developing neurocognitive disorders. In fact, research has shown a 43% increased risk of developing any type of neurocognitive disorder in individuals with sleep apnea.1 Looking more closely, the risk of Alzheimer’s disease was found to be 28% higher in people with sleep apnea.1 The risk of Parkinson’s disease was even more pronounced, at 54% higher. One study also reported a two-fold increased risk of Lewy body dementia.1 Interestingly, no significant association was found for vascular dementia. Why Would Sleep Apnea Affect the Brain? Our brains rely on deep, restorative sleep to repair cells, consolidate memories, and clear waste products — including proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Sleep apnea fragments sleep and reduces oxygen levels during the night.1 Over time, this repeated disruption may place stress on the brain. Imagine trying to recharge your phone overnight, but someone keeps unplugging it every few minutes. That’s similar to what untreated sleep apnea does to the body and brain night after night. The Good News: It’s Treatable Here’s the reassuring part: sleep apnea is treatable. CPAP therapy involves a bedside machine which gently blows air through a mask to keep your airway open, eliminating symptoms.2 A Simple Step for Your Future Brain During Brain Awareness Week, it’s worth reflecting on your sleep. Do you snore loudly? Wake up gasping? Feel exhausted despite spending enough hours in bed? Experience morning headaches or difficulty concentrating? These symptoms shouldn’t be brushed aside as “just getting older” or being busy. If you’re concerned about your sleep, speak to your doctor about whether a sleep assessment might be appropriate. Protecting your brain starts with protecting your sleep — and that’s a conversation worth having. How Sove CPAP Clinic Can Help Founded in 2008, Sove CPAP Clinic has grown to become a leading provider of respiratory and sleep services and products in Australia, with over 90 clinics nationwide. Our comprehensive clinical team includes Respiratory & Sleep Specialists, Sleep Technologists, and CPAP Consultants, ensuring that you receive comprehensive and personalised care. All medical procedures, including sleep studies and lung function testing, are bulk billed to all Australians, with minimal wait time. If you would like to speak to a Respiratory & Sleep Physician, book a bulk-billed sleep study, or seek advice for your sleep apnea, you can reach us at 1300 76 29 39 or info@thecpapclinic.com.au. ALWAYS FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE. CPAP is used for Obstructive Sleep Apnea treatment. When considering whether a sleep study or CPAP is right for you, speak to your doctor. Medicare criteria and T&Cs apply. References 1 Guay-Gagnon, Martin, et al. “Sleep Apnea and the Risk of Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Journal of Sleep Research, vol. 31, no. 5, 1 Oct. 2022, p. e13589. 2 Katella, Kathy. “7 Things to Know about Sleep Apnea and CPAP.” Yale Medicine, 18 Apr. 2022.
