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Does sleep-disordered breathing add to impairments in academic performance and brain structure usually observed in

Lucia V Torres-Lopez1, Cristina Cadenas-Sanchez2,3, Jairo H Migueles2,4,5

  • 1PROFITH "PROmoting FITness and Health Through Physical Activity" Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Sport and Health University Research Institute (iMUDS), University of Granada, Granada, 18011, Spain. luciatl@ugr.es.

European Journal of Pediatrics
|February 10, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in children with obesity is linked to lower school grades, but not standardized academic tests or brain volumes. SDB may worsen academic issues beyond obesity alone.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Neuroscience
  • Child Psychology

Background:

  • Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) affects 4-11% of children and is more common in those with obesity.
  • Both obesity and SDB are linked to poorer brain health, but their combined impact on children's brain structure and academic performance is not well understood.
  • This study investigates the relationship between SDB severity and brain health in children with overweight/obesity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) severity with academic performance and brain structure in children with overweight/obesity.
  • To determine if SDB severity impacts academic performance beyond the effects of overweight/obesity alone.
  • To assess brain structure, including total brain, gray matter, white matter volumes, and hippocampal gray matter volume.

Main Methods:

  • Included 109 children aged 8-12 years with overweight/obesity.
  • Assessed SDB severity using the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ).
  • Evaluated academic performance via standardized tests (Woodcock-Muñoz) and school grades.
  • Measured brain structure using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Main Results:

  • SDB severity was not associated with standardized academic test performance.
  • SDB severity was associated with lower school grade point averages and specific subject grades (natural and social sciences).
  • No associations were found between SDB severity and overall brain volumes or hippocampal gray matter volume.

Conclusions:

  • SDB severity is linked to poorer school grades in children with overweight/obesity, independent of standardized academic measures.
  • SDB may contribute to academic difficulties in overweight/obese children, exacerbating issues beyond weight status alone.
  • Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying SDB's impact on academic performance in this population.

Keywords:
Academic achievementBrain healthChildhood obesityObstructive sleep apneaPreadolescents

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