Heavy snoring and sleep apnea could lead to Alzheimer's

New research suggests that snoring is more than just annoying to other people — it could be a sign that you're at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Researchers at New York University's Langone Medical Center found that sleep apnea and other sleep disorders could speed up the onset of Alzheimer's disease, as well as "moderate cognitive impairment," The Washington Post reports.

The study researchers found that sleep disturbances, such as sleep apnea, caused cognitive impairment, such as memory loss, 11 years earlier than it was seen in those without sleep disturbances. Alzheimer's disease also began in the group with sleep disorders at age 83, while it didn't begin until age 88 for those without sleep disorders.

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The scientists believe that oxygen cutoffs or sleep disruption itself could be to blame for the sleep disturbance sufferers' cognitive decline. But on a more positive note, the researchers found that by using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, sleep apnea sufferers could delay or prevent cognitive issues.