Women with Sleep Apnea Show More Signs of Brain Damage

Sleep Apnea is well known to affect women and men differently.  But new studies show that women with this sleep disorder are actually reported to have greater evidence of brain damage than men with the same condition.

Presence of nerve fibers called (white matter) were compared in the brains of 80 men and women and researchers have found that with /or without obstructive sleep apnea, brain damage in women affected the brain more.

These women’s brains were affected in two areas in the front of the brain (the cingulum bundle and the anterior cingulate cortex).  This is known to play a role in decision-making and regulation mood.

Women are also know to have higher levels of daytime sleepiness, stress, anxiety and reduced quality of sleep, according to the study in the December issue of the Journal of Sleep.

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