How Sleep Apnea Impacts Brainwaves and REM Sleep
Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder involving repeated pauses in breathing during sleep. The two main types of sleep apnea, obstructive and central, share similar consequences on sleep patterns. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) results from physical airway blockages, while central sleep apnea (CSA) is caused by irregular signaling in the brain.
This disorder can also disrupt sleep architecture and the interplay between brainwaves and the different stages of sleep. Brainwaves, the rhythmic patterns of electrical activity in the brain, are categorized as gamma, beta, alpha, theta, and delta. Each type corresponds to a specific level of brain activity, including the vital REM sleep stage. The recurring bouts of oxygen deprivation caused by sleep apnea events can trigger an imbalance in the frequency and amplitude of brainwaves during sleep, leading to poor rest, and eventually, health decline.
REM sleep is known as the vivid dream stage and is a crucial phase of the sleep cycle. A mix of brainwave frequencies are present during REM (similar to our brainwaves when we’re awake), likely due to our immersive dream activity. REM is characterized by a mixture of theta (4-8 Hz), beta (16-32 Hz) and gamma (>32 Hz). Theta waves are particularly important during this sleep stage, as they are associated with intense dreaming, memory consolidation, learning, information processing, and emotional processing, making them essential for cognitive function and mental fitness.
When sleep apnea strikes often enough, it causes REM sleep fragmentation, which can lead to a slew of negative side effects, like excessive daytime sleepiness, cognitive impairments, and mood disturbances. It may also impact memory consolidation, creativity, emotional regulation, and impair the overall quality of life.
Think of REM fragmentation as trying to load a new update on your smart phone or computer. If you keep breaking your connection to REM sleep — plugging and unplugging — the update never completes and starts back at square one, never achieving the full update. If you’ve ever crammed for a test and pulled an all-nighter (no REM sleep), you never get the benefit of sorting and organizing all the data you took in so that you can retrieve it in your waking state.
Proper management of sleep apnea is crucial to mitigate the impact on brainwaves and REM sleep. Treatment options include continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, oral appliances, lifestyle modifications, and, in some cases, surgical interventions. Undergoing a sleep study with a board-certified sleep physician can help diagnose the severity of sleep apnea and determine the best treatment to restore the harmony of brainwaves and facilitate a restorative slumber.