Lack Of Sleep And Low Oxygen Levels Correlate With Signs Of Dementia

To increase oxygen levels in the blood, it is recommended to follow a diet rich in fiber and consume fruits and vegetables rich in potassium, magnesium and vitamin C.

A recent study found that lack of sleep can develop brain abnormalities very similar to those in patients who show signs of dementia.

Experts recommend changing bad habits that can influence the quality of sleep. Like eating late, watching TV before going to bed. Or use the cell phone.

Most people don’t pay enough attention to this topic. They are unaware that their sleep problems have to do with these bad practices which cause alterations in the biological clock.

Not getting adequate sleep or having trouble sleeping can have serious consequences. In terms of physical and mental health.

The discovery was made by a group of researchers from the Hawaii Veterans Administration. They who studied 167 men with an average age of 84 years. These people participated in the experiment until their death, about 6 months later.

The autopsies focused on studying their brains to find traces of micro-infarcts. Changes in brain tissue most often appear in people who have poor sleep habits.

The result determined that individuals who exhibited changes in brain tissue also had low levels of oxygen in the blood. This characteristic is also linked to the development of signs of dementia.

Low blood oxygen levels associated with signs of dementia

The results were based on brain abnormalities experienced by people who had trouble sleeping and low blood oxygen levels.

As a last resort, it has been shown that patients who had between 77 and 99% of their time asleep with lower levels of oxygen in the blood were up to 4 times more likely to develop brain damage. .

The conclusion was that people who experienced low oxygen levels during their sleep were more likely to suffer from brain abnormalities similar to dementia.

Study author Rebecca P. Gelber of the Pacific Health Research and Education Institute in Honolulu, Hawaii, said the findings demonstrate that low levels of oxygen in the blood and sleep problems can contribute to deterioration and dementia.

While the expert accepts that there is a lack of further research on this subject to discover more links between sleep problems and signs of dementia, the results are very interesting, especially considering that the rate number of people with sleep problems has increased in recent years.

This study was published by the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.  It includes other important data such as length of sleep time, oxygen saturation and duration of sleep apnea.

What Causes Low Blood Oxygen Levels?

According to experts, low levels of oxygen in the blood may be due to the following causes, among others:

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Anemia with acute respiratory distress syndrome 
• Pulmonary fibrosis
• Congenital heart disease
• Emphysema

How to increase oxygen levels in the blood?

To increase the oxygen levels in the blood, it is recommended to follow a diet rich in fiber, with a good amount of fruits and vegetables rich in potassium, magnesium and vitamin C.

Among the healthiest foods are:

• Banana
• Lawyer
• Celery and parsley
• Cabbage
• Spinach
• Citrus
• Cucumber
• Broccoli
• Green apple
• Blueberries
• Cranberries

In addition, it is very important to reduce your sodium intake. Avoid the consumption of fats, sugar and processed foods, among others.

Thus, it is recommended to follow the advice given by the experts to avoid sleep problems. In addition to influencing brain damage, they can have other negative effects on health such as lower morale, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, stress.