Obstructive sleep apnea and dementia: A role to play?

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Sleep Medicine
• Gerontology

Background:

• Growing evidence links sleep disturbances to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathophysiology in humans and animal models.
• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent comorbidity in middle-aged and elderly populations, often associated with cognitive impairment and increased dementia risk, including AD.
• OSA is more frequently observed in individuals with AD compared to cognitively normal older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and Alzheimer's disease (AD).
• To understand the role of OSA in AD pathophysiology and its potential impact on cognitive decline.
• To investigate the link between OSA, AD biomarkers, and the potential benefits of OSA screening and treatment.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on sleep disorders, cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's disease.
• Analysis of studies investigating the prevalence of OSA in AD patients versus cognitively normal individuals.
• Examination of research on the relationship between OSA and AD biomarkers.

Main Results:

• OSA is linked to cognitive impairment, daytime sleepiness, and an elevated risk of developing mild cognitive impairment, dementia, and AD.
• A correlation exists between OSA and established AD biomarkers.
• The prevalence of OSA is higher in older individuals with AD.

Conclusions:

• OSA is a significant comorbidity associated with Alzheimer's disease, impacting cognitive function and potentially AD biomarkers.
• Further investigation is required to ascertain if screening and treating OSA can positively influence AD biomarkers and slow or prevent dementia.
• Understanding OSA's role in AD is crucial for developing strategies to delay or prevent disease onset, given the lack of effective AD treatments.