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Sleep Apnea Is a Risk Factor for Stroke and Vascular Dementia

  • Sleep (M Thorpy and M Billiard, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

In this article, we review the cerebrovascular complications of sleep apnea (SA). SA is the major sleep disorder associated with stroke and vascular dementia.

Recent Findings

Sleep apnea syndrome of moderate to severe intensity affects 17% of 50–70-year-old men and 9% of 50–70-year-old women, making SA a notorious and prevalent disorder. SA increases the risk of hypertension, stroke, myocardial infarction, and atrial fibrillation (AF) and is closely linked to vascular dementia. In addition, SA may worsen the neurologic outcome in acute stroke patients and interferes with rehabilitation after stroke.

Summary

Proper management of SA may decrease the clinical impact of stroke risk factors, improve neurologic outcome after stroke, and lessen the progression of subcortical ischemic vascular disease. In this article, we will cover the most salient pathologies that associate SA and cerebrovascular pathology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, 750 E. Adams Street, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA

    Antonio Culebras & Sanam Anwar

  2. University Sleep Center, Syracuse, NY, USA

    Antonio Culebras

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  1. Antonio Culebras
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  2. Sanam Anwar
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Correspondence to Antonio Culebras.

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Antonio Culebras reports royalties from MedLink and Uptodate.

Sanam Anwar declares no potential conflicts of interest.

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Culebras, A., Anwar, S. Sleep Apnea Is a Risk Factor for Stroke and Vascular Dementia. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 18, 53 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-018-0855-1

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