A study published in the July 1, 2008, issue of the journal Sleep provides visual evidence of the severe structural damage that occurs in numerous regions of the brain in people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Results show that obstructive sleep apnea patients have extensive alterations in “white matter,” nerve tissue in the brain containing fibers that are insulated with myelin — a white, fatty sheath. These structural changes appear both in brain regions that have functional importance for characteristics such as mood, memory, and cardiovascular regulation; and in fiber pathways interconnecting these regions.
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Editor’s Note: Following an episode of CBS’ show, Rules of Engagement, many people were offended by a suggestion in the show that snoring, and more likely, apnea, could be treated by a surgical procedure known as uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. This personal story is a positive result of the public’s resentment of the suggestion.
I’m a 57-year-old woman from the Washington, D.C. metro area who underwent uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) surgery in July, 2005, because I was told it would treat my severe obstructive sleep apnea.
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