What does sleep apnea do to the brain?

A British study has warned that a condition linked to snoring can cause significant declines in brain function — not just because it leaves us tired in the daytime, but because it may cause inflammation and physical damage in the brain.

The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Sleep, followed 27 otherwise healthy middle-aged men with mild to severe Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Compared to a healthy group, the sleep apnea sufferers performed distinctly worse in a range of cognitive tests, including being significantly less alert and having a worse short-term visual memory.

Dr Ivana Rosenzweig is the neuropsychiatrist who heads the Sleep and Brain Plasticity Centre at King’s College London. She's also the lead author of the report. She's been explaining the findings to Newshour's Razia Iqbal.

(Photo shows: Stock image of a young man snoring. Credit: Getty Images)