Brain Structure Network Analysis in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Medical Imaging
• Network Science

Background:

• Childhood obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder in school-aged children.
• OSA involves repeated upper airway blockage during sleep, potentially impacting brain development.
• Understanding the neuropathophysiology of OSA is crucial for effective intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate topological alterations in the brain's structural correlation network in children with OSA.
• To compare global and regional network properties between children with OSA and healthy controls.
• To explore the neuropathophysiology of OSA from a network perspective.

Main Methods:

• Graph theoretical analysis was applied to brain morphometric correlation networks.
• Structural correlation networks were constructed based on regional gray matter volume for OSA patients and controls.
• Global and regional network properties, including local efficiency and centrality, were analyzed.

Main Results:

• A significantly decreased mean local efficiency was observed in the OSA group compared to controls.
• Tendencies of decreased betweenness centrality in the left angular gyrus and decreased degree in the right lingual and inferior frontal gyri were found in OSA patients.
• Network hubs exhibited different distributions between the OSA and control groups.

Conclusions:

• This study provides the first characterization of brain structure networks in childhood OSA using gray matter volume.
• Findings suggest alterations in global and regional brain network topology associated with OSA in children.
• The results offer novel evidence for understanding the neuropathophysiology of OSA through a topological lens.