Sleep Disordered Breathing and White Matter Hyperintensities in Community-Dwelling Elders

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Sleep Medicine
• Gerontology

Background:

• Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is prevalent in older adults.
• White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are associated with cognitive decline and aging.
• The relationship between SDB and WMH in community-dwelling elderly populations requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between self-reported sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) markers and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume.
• To examine this relationship in a multiethnic, community-dwelling cohort of older adults.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional analysis of the Washington Heights-Inwood Columbia Aging Project (WHICAP).
• Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for WMH volume quantification.
• Medical Outcomes Study-Sleep Scale (MOS-SS) used to assess SDB symptoms.

Main Results:

• 483 older adults with both MRI and sleep data were analyzed.
• Self-reported SDB symptoms, including frequent snoring and waking short of breath, were associated with larger WMH volumes.
• Associations remained significant after adjusting for demographic and vascular risk factors.

Conclusions:

• Self-reported SDB is associated with increased WMH volume in community-dwelling older adults.
• These findings suggest that SDB may contribute to brain aging and cognitive impairment through effects on small cerebral vessels.
• Further research is warranted to explore the causal mechanisms and clinical implications.