Dementia warning as common sleep habit could 'mess with your brain's wiring'

A neurologist has issued a stark warning regarding a widespread sleep habit, suggesting it could potentially "harm" the brain. He revealed that it might even heighten your chances of developing dementia.

In a clip posted on social media platform TikTok, a medical professional known as Dr Baibing Cheng cautioned his followers about chronic snoring. Whilst this behaviour isn't typically something we can help, it may be worthwhile consulting a GP if you suspect it stems from sleep apnoea.

Dr Cheng, who goes by Dr Bing online, outlined how persistent snoring could harm specific blood vessels, raising your likelihood of strokes alongside dementia.

He stated: "When you snore, especially if it's loud or happens most nights, it can mean your breathing is actually stopping and starting during sleep.

"This cuts off oxygen to your brain over and over again leading to tiny injuries in your blood vessels. These injuries are linked to silent strokes and even a higher risk of dementia down the road."

He went on: "Snoring literally messes with your brain structure. MRI studies have shown that frequent snorers can actually lose grey matter in areas [of the brain] that control memory and thinking.

"The more you snore, the more these brain regions can shrink, like the hippocampus, which is very important for your memory. And, guess what, that's been tied to slower thinking and difficulty concentrating during the day."

Beyond this, he cautioned that snoring can disrupt your sleep which, if it persists over an extended period, can have enduring consequences. "Even if you don't have full blown sleep apnoea snoring itself can mess up your deep sleep, especially the N3 stage, the one that makes you feel refreshed.

"This happens because the vibrations from snoring can wake your brain up even if you don't remember it and that means you get less restorative sleep and your brain doesn't get its overnight clean up. So, snoring isn't just annoying your partner it's literally messing with your brain's wiring."

His guidance is backed by several scientific investigations. A study, published in Sleep journal in 2021, discovered that the brains of individuals with sleep apnoea contained elevated levels of beta-amyloid plaques, a characteristic marker of Alzheimer's disease.

Study author Professor Stephen Robinson, from RMIT University in Australia, explained: "We know that if you have sleep apnoea in mid-life, you're more likely to develop Alzheimer's when you're older. And if you have Alzheimer's, you are more likely to have sleep apnoea than other people your age."

He continued: "Our study is the first to find Alzheimer's-like amyloid plaques in the brains of people with clinically-verified obstructive sleep apnoea."

The NHS states that sleep apnoea symptoms primarily occur during sleep. These include:

• Breathing stopping and starting
• Making gasping, snorting or choking noises
• Waking up a lot
• Loud snoring

During the day, you may also:

• Feel very tired
• Find it hard to concentrate
• Have mood swings
• Have a headache when you wake up

The NHS advises seeking medical advice if you exhibit any of the primary symptoms of sleep apnoea. It further suggests: If someone else has observed these symptoms in you, it could be beneficial to bring them along to your GP appointment.

"Sleep apnoea can be serious if it's not diagnosed and treated."