Scientists found the "Clog" in our brains that leads to Alzheimer’s — and it can have a connection to Sleep Apnea
This new research shows that as we age, our neurons lose the ability to properly break down synaptic proteins. The proteins literally start sticking around like sludge.
Why this matters for apnea: OSA doesn't just make you tired—it actively clogs that plumbing.
Apnea repeatedly jerks you out of slow-wave sleep, which is when the glymphatic "pressure washing" happens
Intermittent hypoxia and blood pressure spikes during events damage the perivascular spaces
Studies link untreated OSA to a 70-85% increased risk for dementia
Your CPAP isn't just stopping snoring—it's maintaining the pressure gradients and oxygenation necessary for your brain to clear that nightly protein waste. If you are delaying getting treatment, I know I dragged my feet and have tons of friends that haven't jumped on.... don't!
This Nature article investigates how ageing affects neuronal proteostasis, focusing on protein degradation, aggregation, and transfer to microglia. The study engineered bioorthogonal tools to tag the neuronal proteome in mice and found that protein half-life approximately doubles with age, particularly in the hippocampus. The researchers identified an 'aggregome' of 1,726 proteins that accumulate in aggregates in aged brains, many of which are linked to neurodegenerative diseases. They also discovered that microglia accumulate neuronal proteins, especially synaptic proteins, in aged mice, suggesting a mechanism to maintain neuronal proteostasis. These findings highlight the loss of proteostasis as a key factor in age-related synapse loss and cognitive decline.
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