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Neurocognitive dysfunction and grey matter density deficit in children with obstructive sleep apnoea

K C Chan1, L Shi2, H K So1

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.

Sleep Medicine
|July 16, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Children with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) exhibit impaired attention and visual-fine motor coordination. Moderate-to-severe OSA is linked to reduced grey matter density in specific brain regions.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Neuroimaging

Background:

  • Adult obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is linked to cerebral structural changes.
  • Data on childhood OSA, neurocognitive function, and brain structure is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Compare neurocognitive function between children with and without OSA.
  • Assess regional grey matter density and cerebral volume in pediatric OSA.
  • Investigate associations between brain structure and neurocognitive deficits in childhood OSA.

Main Methods:

  • Fifty children with OSA and 27 controls underwent neurocognitive testing.
  • 3D MRI scans analyzed for total cerebral volume and regional grey matter density using voxel-based morphometry.
  • Moderate-to-severe OSA defined by an obstructive apnoea hypopnoea index > 5.

Main Results:

  • Children with OSA demonstrated significantly lower scores in attention and visual-fine motor coordination.
  • Grey matter deficits were observed in prefrontal and temporal regions of children with moderate-to-severe OSA.
  • A negative correlation existed between visual-fine motor coordination and grey matter volume ratio.

Conclusions:

  • Childhood OSA is associated with deficits in attention and visual-fine motor coordination.
  • Regional grey matter reduction is evident in children with more severe OSA.
  • Neuroimaging reveals structural brain changes correlating with functional impairments in pediatric OSA.
Abstract

Keywords:
BrainChildCognitive functionGrey matter densityMagnetic resonanceObstructive sleep apnoeaPaediatricVoxel-based morphometry

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