Studies show that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects much more than just your sleep. It can even damage your brain.
A recent brain imaging study from France involved 16 adults. Each of them had just been diagnosed with sleep apnea.
In numerous brain regions the study found a loss of “gray matter”. This is brain tissue that contains fibers and nerve cell bodies. There also was a decrease in brain metabolism.
The authors suggest that these changes may explain some of the impairments that often occur in people with sleep apnea. Examples include attention lapses and memory loss. The study was published in the March 2009 issue of the Journal of Sleep Research.
American Academy of Sleep Medicine rnAASM | 06/01/2009rnrnrn Related Articles rnHelp Your Infant or Toddler Sleep with This Simple Bedtime Routine rn rnBad Chemistry: Study Links Primary Insomnia to Low Levels of a Brain Chemical rn rnThe Fight against Breast Cancer Often Involves a Struggle with Insomnia rn rnSleep in the City: Big-City Living May Cause Insomnia, Sleep Loss rn rnZolpidem (Stilnox) and Insomnia Management – NPS Info rn rn rnrn Related Items rnDisorders: rnIdiopathic Insomnia rn rnInsomnia Organic, Unspecified rn rnInadequate Sleep Hygiene rn rnPsychophysiological Insomnia rn rnParadoxical Insomnia rn rnrnTreatments: rnCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) rn rn rnrn rn rn rnResearch has shown that cognitive behavioral therapy is an effective treatment option for chronic insomnia. But can online CBT help you sleep better?rn rnSome health insurers think so. In November the L.A. Times reported that online CBT for insomnia is now covered by some insurance providers.rn rnNow a new study published today in the journal Sleep adds to the evidence supporting online CBT for insomnia. The study in Canada involved 118 adults with ongoing sleeplessness. Each participant had struggled with insomnia for at least four nights a week for six months or longer.rn rnSome participants were put on a waiting list; others received online CBT at home for five weeks. The online treatment used video clips as the main teaching component. It also included downloadable MP3 files for relaxation training. PDF files provided psychoeducation and cognitive therapy.rn rnResults show that a five-week, online CBT program helped most people in the treatment group; 81 percent reported at least mild improvement in their sleep. Thirty-five percent rated themselves as either “much improved” or “very much improved.” Thirty percent of treatment group completers were receiving an additional hour of sleep at the end of the program. rn rnPeople in the treatment group were less likely to report having an overactive mind at bedtime. They also developed healthier attitudes about sleep.rn rnCBT involves a combination of various treatment methods. The treatment program in this study consisted of six strategies:rnpsychoeducation about insomnia rninformation concerning sleep hygiene rnstimulus control instruction rnrelaxation training rnsleep restriction rncognitive therapy rnThere are many positive aspects of online CBT. It can be available to anyone with Internet access. Users also may be able to proceed at their own pace and repeat material as needed.rn rnBut there are some potential drawbacks. Online CBT may not be as effective as in-person CBT at helping you find the cause of your insomnia. It also may not work as well for people with related problems such as depression.rn rnAnd some people may fail to follow through with an online treatment program. In the current study there was a 33-percent drop-out rate. Physician-referred participants were significantly more likely to drop out than people who responded to a newspaper ad.rn rnA few previous studies of online CBT for insomnia provided mixed results. An abstract presented at SLEEP 2008 involved a six-week program. Results show that participants increased their average, nightly total sleep time by 80 minutes.rn rnA 2008 study from Japan evaluated a two-week program. The study was published in the Journal of Occupational Health. Sleep quality and sleep-related behaviors improved significantly. After treatment participants were able to fall asleep about eight minutes faster. But there was little change in total sleep time. rn rnA 2004 study from Sweden used a five-week program. The study was published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. Sleep improved in both the treatment group and the control group.rn rnSo what’s the bottom line? Online CBT programs have great potential for people who suffer from chronic insomnia. But they may need to be fine-tuned to maximize their effectiveness.rnYou will find links to the studies mentioned in this article on the Sleep Education Blog.rnrnContact an AASM-accredited sleep center near you for help with insomnia.rn
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