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Published on: December 6, 2016
Improved cognitive functions after treatment with an oral appliance in obstructive sleep apnea
Ake Tegelberg1, Bo Wilhelmsson, Nina Erixon-Lindroth
1Department of Stomatognathic Physiology, Central Hospital, Västerås, Sweden ; Centre for Clinical Research, Uppsala University, Central Hospital, Västerås, Sweden ; Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden.
Objective:
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of oral appliance (OA) treatment on cognitive functions in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Materials And Methods:
In a prospective study, 50 male patients with verified moderate-to-severe OSA received an OA with mandibular advancement. The cognitive functions assessed included working memory, vigilance, executive functioning, and mental pace, measured before as well as after 6 months of treatment. Somnography was used to measure physiological treatment effects. Forty-three patients completed the 6-month follow-up study.
Results:
All domains of cognitive functioning measured improved after 6 months of treatment with an OA (P <; 0.001). The apnea/hypopnea- and oxygen desaturation-indices decreased significantly after treatment (P <; 0.01). An obvious treatment response was reached in 60% of the patients, and 54% of the patients had recovered ie, had normalized breathing during sleep.
Conclusion:
OA with mandibular advancement is a treatment modality for the physiological symptoms of OSA, and may have a positive impact on cognitive functions, after only 6 months of treatment.
