A Meta-analysis of Voxel-based Brain Morphometry Studies in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Radiology
• Psychoradiology

Background:

• Gray matter (GM) anomalies are suspected in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) but clinical relevance is debated.
• Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) studies investigate brain abnormalities in OSA patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify brain abnormalities in patients with OSA using a meta-analysis of VBM studies.
• To quantitatively estimate regional GM changes in OSA patients.
• To explore associations between GM changes and clinical factors.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search following PRISMA guidelines.
• Meta-analysis using anisotropic effect-size-based algorithms (ASE-SDM).
• Inclusion of 15 studies (16 datasets) with 353 untreated OSA patients and 444 controls.

Main Results:

• Significant GM reductions found in bilateral anterior cingulate/paracingulate gyri (ACG/ApCG), left cerebellum, bilateral superior frontal gyrus (SFG), right middle temporal gyrus (MTG), and right premotor cortex.
• GM reductions in ACG/ApCG correlated positively with BMI and age.
• GM reductions in SFG negatively correlated with Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) scores and male sex.

Conclusions:

• Identified GM reductions in specific brain regions may underlie neurocognitive and respiratory issues in OSA.
• Findings contribute to understanding OSA's structural brain underpinnings.
• Highlights the role of Psychoradiology in studying psychiatric disorders associated with OSA.