Study may help in development of sleep apnea treatments

By Staff Writer

Teens and young adults who experience problems sleeping are at a higher risk for developing mental health issues, such as depression. However, new research from the University of Toronto may provide relief for sleep apnea sufferers.

The study, which is published in the Journal of Neuroscience, shows how scientists induced short 15 second apneas in sedated rats by limiting airflow to their lungs. The research demonstrates how repeated apneas cause the brain to trigger more forceful contraction of the respiratory muscles, which can increase breathing for more than an hour.

Scientists found that the brain compensates for apneas by increasing the depth of breathing. Their findings reveal how noradrenaline - a chemical in the brain - causes brain plasticity and enhances breathing.

One of the lead researchers suggested that repeated disruption of normal lung activity during sleep apnea triggers nonadrenaline to help the body breathe better.

The results of the study are important because they may help in the development of future treatment for sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is characterized by loud snoring and labored breathing, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One study estimated that sleep apnea occurs in about 7 percent of obese children.