[Influences of severe obstructive sleep apnea on cognitive function]

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Sleep Medicine
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent sleep disorder.
• Cognitive impairment is a known complication of OSA.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate cognitive function differences between severe OSA and non-to-moderate OSA patients.
• To determine if severe OSA is an independent risk factor for cognitive decline.

Main Methods:

• 196 subjects underwent polysomnography and MoCA scale assessment.
• 161 patients were evaluated using SDMT and TMT-A for attention and processing speed.
• Linear regression analysis was used to identify independent factors influencing cognition.

Main Results:

• Severe OSA patients showed significantly lower MoCA total scores, delayed recall, and SDMT correct numbers compared to non-to-moderate OSA patients.
• Linear regression confirmed severe OSA as an independent negative predictor for MoCA scores and SDMT performance.
• Cognitive deficits in delayed recall, attention, and processing speed were observed in severe OSA.

Conclusions:

• Severe OSA is associated with a marked decline in overall cognition, including delayed recall, attention, and processing speed.
• Severe OSA may independently contribute to impairments in these cognitive domains.