Improvement of EEG slowing in OSAS after CPAP treatment

This study was done to investigate change of electroencephalography (EEG) slowing and its relationship to daytime sleepiness and cognitive functions by continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).

We enrolled thirteen male subjects with severe OSAS, and all the subjects were treated with CPAP for 3 months. Quantitative EEG (QEEG) and neuropsychological tests were performed before and after CPAP treatment.

After CPAP treatment, delta absolute power decreased in the frontal, central, parietal and temporal regions and the slowing ratio was reduced in the frontal region. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score was reduced after CPAP treatment. Reduction in the ESS score was correlated with a decrease in delta absolute power in the frontal region (r=0.559) and a decrease in slowing ratio in frontal, central, parietal, and temporal regions (frontal, r=0.650; other regions, r=0.603). Results of neuropsychological tests assessing memory and attention were improved after CPAP treatment.

EEG slowing was decreased across all cerebral regions in patients with severe OSAS after CPAP treatment accompanied by improvement of cognitive functions involving several brain areas. These findings suggest that CPAP can induce improvement of cerebral function in OSAS without regional specificity.