How sleep, breathing, and oral health shape brain aging—and why airway issues at night may be a hidden driver of cognitive decline.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Erela Katz Rappaport to explore the powerful but often overlooked connection between sleep, airway health, oral inflammation, and brain aging. We unpack why sleep apnea is so underdiagnosed—especially in women—and how disrupted breathing at night affects memory, metabolism, and cognitive decline. This conversation reveals why optimizing sleep and oral health may be one of the most impactful steps you can take for lifelong brain resilience.

Dr. Erela Katz Rappaport, DMD, is a dentist specializing in dental sleep medicine and airway-focused care. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine and practices in San Diego, where she integrates oral health, airway science, sleep, and inflammation to support whole-body and brain health. Dr. Katz Rappaport is the author of Breathe Easy, Sleep Deep, a guide designed to help people recognize sleep-disordered breathing and reclaim restorative sleep for long-term cognitive protection.

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