CPAP and Dementia

How CPAP is linked to dementia

Untreated sleep apnea can have a lot of negative consequences on your body, especially your memory and cognitive function. Sleep apnea restricts your body from getting necessary oxygen during sleep. Each time you struggle for breath during the night due to your obstructive sleep apnea, you get less oxygen in your system, which can have lasting effects on your mind and body.

When apnea events restrict your oxygen, they also reduce your time spent in REM sleep, making your sleep less restful. In one study, “105 women (35.2%) with sleep-disordered breathing were more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment or dementia.”¹

Study findings on CPAP and dementia

The good news is, using CPAP may help both sleep apnea and reducing your risk for dementia at the same time. Researchers have found that using CPAP will:

Help prevent cognitive deterioration that leads to dementia¹
Increase REM sleep in people with sleep apnea²
Improve oxygen levels through the night²

In one study on disordered breathing, the higher levels of restricted air led to higher rates of cognitive impairment and dementia.¹ However, in another study, CPAP users began to repair their brain’s nerve fibers thanks to a full year of CPAP compliance.² Staying compliant with CPAP treatments will let you avoid these harmful side effects of untreated sleep apnea, and even reverse some of the negative consequences of sleep apnea.

How to stay compliant and improve brain health

By now you’re wondering – how can I make sure my CPAP is treating my sleep apnea correctly? There are a few ways to ensure your CPAP is giving you the best CPAP therapy possible – and therefore helping your brain health too.

Here are 4 tips for CPAP effectiveness and compliance:

1. Make sure you have working supplies.

When your supplies are old, the therapy will become less and less effective. Because this happens slowly over time, most folks end up not noticing it. Instead, they will tighten their mask a little more, thinking they just need the seal a little closer.

Eventually this leads to over-tightening that can cause pain, marks, and the annoying “hot mask” feeling. The less comfortable your CPAP supplies are, the harder it is to stay compliant and get your CPAP benefits. You can avoid this by replacing your supplies with fresh ones regularly on the recommended, insurance-backed schedule.

Your CPAP supplies could be yours for $0! Allow us to check with your insurance provider for you to find out what is covered (for free!). Click below to get started:

Are your supplies due for a replacement? Check out our standard insurance replacement schedule below:

2. Have a machine that meets all of your nightly needs.

Your pressure needs vary through the night as you sleep. Newer CPAPs are auto-titrating, meaning they adjust to your needs breath-by-breath to give the most effective pressure needed all through the night. On top of perfecting the pressure for your every breath, they have automatically adjusting comfort settings to keep you compliant every night of the week. ResMed’s AirSense 11 AutoSet also offers:

Humidification: 7 levels of humidity and an optional heated tube ensures you don’t dry out
EPR: Expiratory Pressure Relief reduces pressure upon exhale, avoiding high pressure mask leaks
AutoRamp: Starts your sleep therapy at a low pressure so you fall asleep more comfortably

Humidification: 7 levels of humidity and an optional heated tube ensures you don’t dry out
EPR: Expiratory Pressure Relief reduces pressure upon exhale, avoiding high pressure mask leaks
AutoRamp: Starts your sleep therapy at a low pressure so you fall asleep more comfortably

Upgrade to the AirSense today for just $399 down and 0% APR!

3. Keep your supplies clean and safe.

Bacteria buildup on your mask can make you sick or weaken your mask seal. Weak seals and CPAP illnesses are big barriers to compliance, as they make using CPAP much more of a chore. That’s why keeping your mask and hose clean can be the difference between intolerable and effective CPAP therapy. The Sleep8 CPAP cleaner will keep your supplies sanitary and fresh. The Sleep8 makes cleaning easy with:

Ozone technology: Kills over 99% of harmful viruses, bacteria, and mold
One-click cleaning: Just press a button and let the Sleep8 do the rest
Complete compatibility: No adapter needed to use with any mask and machine

Ozone technology: Kills over 99% of harmful viruses, bacteria, and mold
One-click cleaning: Just press a button and let the Sleep8 do the rest
Complete compatibility: No adapter needed to use with any mask and machine

Save $100 when you buy the Sleep8 today!

If buildup on your mask is a common issue for you, try our Mask Wipes for daily use!

4. Use a mask that makes sleeping a breeze.

Finding the right mask for your face can be frustrating, but newer masks are designed to fit more people every day. If leaks from your mask are giving you trouble, the Evora Nasal Mask will be a great change. Unlike other masks that seal up over and around the bridge of your nose, the Evora will seal around the bottom of your nose and also provides:

Minimal and comfortable design: Soft-knit headgear delivers support with less contact on the face
Freedom to move: Unique compact seal and flexible breathing tube keep mask securely in place
Quiet experience: Designed with directional exhaust holes to minimize noise and draft

Minimal and comfortable design: Soft-knit headgear delivers support with less contact on the face
Freedom to move: Unique compact seal and flexible breathing tube keep mask securely in place
Quiet experience: Designed with directional exhaust holes to minimize noise and draft

Save $25 on the Evora today!

Don’t miss out on your insurance coverage! Find out if the Evora is covered today:

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