Loud snoring, fatigue that doesn’t go away after sleep, and memory lapses may all have one thing in common: sleep apnea, a disorder that not only robs us of rest but is also linked to memory function and creates a vicious cycle of weight gain.
Pulmonologist and sleep specialist Manos Vagiakis, former director and founder of Greece’s first Sleep Disorders Laboratory at Evangelismos Hospital, Manos Vagiakis cites data from recent studies showing that sleep apnea is associated with a 33% greater risk of dementia and a 45% greater risk of Alzheimer’s disease, and affects 75% of people who are obese.
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The warning signs
Loud snoring, especially when it stops for a few seconds and then suddenly starts again, is one of the key signs that should prompt us to take action, notes Mr. Vagiakis, in response to the question of what the key symptoms are.
“Often, these pauses are noticed by the partner sleeping next to the patient, while the patient himself wakes up feeling tired, as if he hasn’t rested, and experiences daytime sleepiness. Other signs include waking up with a feeling of suffocation, frequent nighttime urination, and morning headaches. “Erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation, may also coexist and reinforce the suspicion,” he notes.
However, as he clarifies, not everyone experiences all of these symptoms. Some people have very few symptoms or even no apparent discomfort at all. For those who sleep alone, persistent fatigue and daytime sleepiness, frequent urination at night, or being told by someone that they snore can be reasons to get checked.
Dr. Vagiakis also mentions smartwatches that can measure blood oxygen levels overnight. “Low readings—values below 93—may prompt the user to seek a medical evaluation. However, these measurements are not sufficient to diagnose sleep apnea, which requires appropriate testing and a sleep study.”
How Is Sleep Apnea Linked to Dementia?
There is an increased incidence of dementia in patients with sleep apnea, according to the president of the Hellenic Society of Sleep Medicine.
He notes that in 2025, a large-scale study showed that patients with sleep apnea have a 33% higher risk of dementia and a 45% higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The accumulation of beta-amyloid in the brain is, as is well known, linked to the damage observed in Alzheimer’s disease. Deep sleep, also known as slow-wave sleep, helps the brain clear away metabolic waste products, such as beta-amyloid.
However, he explains that when sleep is repeatedly interrupted, this process is hindered. This is what happens in sleep apnea.
“Constant micro-awakenings prevent deep, restorative sleep and disrupt the brain’s natural ‘cleaning’ mechanism. Nevertheless, difficulty concentrating, slow thinking, and memory lapses do not necessarily mean that a person has dementia,” he notes.
25% of those affected are underweight
Do extra pounds cause sleep apnea, or does sleep apnea make it difficult to control weight? This is a reasonable question.
In a recent study of 12,860 adults from the United States and Switzerland, it was found that 75% of obese individuals had obstructive sleep apnea, and 60% of those who were overweight had sleep apnea. According to this study, 25% of those who suffer from sleep apnea are thin.
44% are overweight and 32% are obese. If you’re overweight, you have sleep apnea, and if you have sleep apnea, it’s hard to lose weight because your metabolism changes, insulin resistance changes, and then, because you’re tired and sleepy during the day, you don’t feel like exercising.
“Another factor that makes the situation worse is that the next day, a sleep-deprived person craves fatty foods and foods high in sugar. Therefore, this vicious cycle must be broken; sleep apnea must first be diagnosed and treated, and then weight loss will be much easier,” he notes.
Regarding injectable medications for obesity, the specialist notes that they significantly reduce apnea, according to two recent studies, one of which was published in October in the *New England Journal of Medicine*.
Pill for sleep apnea in Phase 3 trial
Regarding the treatment of sleep apnea and what experts expect next, the well-known sleep specialist notes that the positive-pressure mask is the standard treatment, which has been in use for 40 years and has been technologically refined.
“It’s very easy to use, it’s quiet, it’s very soft, it doesn’t cause discomfort, and, moreover, it has no complications. Also, in some cases, a special mouthpiece is used while sleeping. The new treatments we’re awaiting include a medication that acts on the nervous system, which is currently in Phase 3 clinical trials,” he says.
“If you don’t fall asleep within twenty minutes, get out of bed.”
Mr. Vagiakis emphasizes the importance of daily habits, as well as how we deal with difficulty falling asleep.
He recommends going to bed at a consistent time and, for those who have trouble sleeping, avoiding coffee, late-night exercise, and alcohol consumption before bed.
“The thought that we won’t be able to fall asleep and that the next day we won’t be able to meet our professional and family obligations increases stress and makes it even harder to fall asleep. Enjoy your insomnia, and sleep will come on its own. Tossing and turning in bed and getting frustrated because we can’t fall asleep only makes the situation worse. If sleep doesn’t come within about 20 minutes, get up and do something else so that the bed isn’t associated with the anxiety of insomnia.”
Source: KYPE
