Obstructive sleep apnoea and 5-year cognitive decline in the elderly
Nicola Andrea Marchi1,2,3,4, Geoffroy Solelhac5, Mathieu Berger5
1Center for Investigation and Research in Sleep, Department of Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland nicola.marchi@unil.ch.
The European Respiratory Journal
|February 16, 2023
Summary
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and low oxygen levels during sleep are linked to faster cognitive decline in older adults. These findings highlight the impact of sleep disorders on brain health in the elderly.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Sleep Medicine
- Gerontology
Background:
- Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and cognitive decline in the elderly is controversial.
- Previous research has not fully elucidated the link between OSA and cognitive changes in older adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the association between OSA and longitudinal cognitive changes in community-dwelling elderly individuals.
- To investigate the moderating effects of age, sex, and apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4) status on this relationship.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the HypnoLaus study on 358 elderly individuals without dementia.
- Analyzed polysomnographic OSA parameters, including breathing/hypoxaemia and sleep fragmentation, over a 5-year period.
- Adjusted for confounders and examined cognitive changes using the Mini-Mental State Examination, Stroop test, and Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test.
Main Results:
- Lower mean peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) during sleep correlated with steeper declines in global cognition, processing speed, and executive function.
- Increased time with SpO2 <90% was associated with a faster decline in processing speed.
- Apnoea-hypopnoea index and oxygen desaturation index exacerbated cognitive decline in older participants, men, and ApoE4 carriers.
Conclusions:
- Obstructive sleep apnoea and nocturnal hypoxaemia contribute to cognitive decline in the elderly.
- Findings underscore the importance of addressing OSA to preserve cognitive function in aging populations.
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