Distinct cognitive changes in male patients with obstructive sleep apnoea without co-morbidities

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Sleep Medicine
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a chronic disorder linked to cognitive deficits.
• The role of OSA-specific factors versus comorbidities in causing these deficits is debated.
• Cognitive impairment in OSA may manifest early, even in middle age.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate cognitive performance in middle-aged men with untreated obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).
• To determine if OSA-specific processes, independent of comorbidities, contribute to cognitive deficits.
• To explore the impact of OSA on various cognitive domains, including social cognition.

Main Methods:

• Compared cognitive function in 27 middle-aged male patients with untreated OSA and 7 healthy controls.
• Classified OSA patients into mild and severe groups based on apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI).
• Assessed executive functioning, visuospatial memory, attention, impulse control, and social cognition.

Main Results:

• Patients with OSA exhibited poorer executive functioning, visuospatial memory, and vigilance sustained attention.
• Deficits in psychomotor and impulse control were observed in the OSA group.
• Novel findings indicate impaired social cognition in middle-aged men with OSA.

Conclusions:

• Distinct OSA-driven processes can cause cognitive changes in middle-aged individuals.
• Cognitive deficits, including social cognition, may appear early in the course of OSA.
• These findings highlight the direct neurological impact of OSA independent of comorbidities.