Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2025

A Machine Learning Approach to Design an Efficient Selective Screening of Mild Cognitive Impairment
Published on: January 11, 2020
Sleep apnoea, cognition and aspirin's effects in healthy older people: an ASPREE substudy
Stephanie A Ward1,2,3, Robyn L Woods1, Matthew T Naughton4
1School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Importance:
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) may increase the risk of dementia; however, studies have reported variable findings. We investigated if undiagnosed OSA in healthy older adults is associated with cognitive decline, and whether low-dose aspirin could attenuate this.
Methods:
This was conducted as a substudy of the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly study. Participants were aged 70 years and above, free of dementia, cardiovascular disease and known OSA. A limited channel home sleep study calculated the oxygen desaturation index. Participants were randomised to daily aspirin 100 mg or placebo. Outcomes were the association of OSA, and the interaction of aspirin with OSA, with change in the Modified Mini-Mental State examination (3MS), a test of global cognition, over 3 years. Secondary outcomes were changes in domain-specific cognitive tests. Analyses were adjusted for relevant demographic, lifestyle and cardiometabolic factors.
Results:
Mild OSA, detected in 630 (49.0%) participants, and moderate/severe OSA, detected in 405 (31.5%) participants, were associated with lower 3MS scores over 3 years (mild OSA: β -0.58, 95% CI -1.15 to -0.00, p=0.049; moderate/severe OSA: β -0.69, 95% CI -1.32 to -0.05, p=0.035), compared to the 250 (19.5%) participants without OSA. No associations of OSA with decline in domain-specific cognitive tests were observed. Interaction terms were not significant for the effects of aspirin with OSA on change in any cognitive test score.
Conclusions:
OSA was associated with a small decline in global cognition over 3 years in this healthy older cohort. This decline was not attenuated by aspirin.
Related Concept Videos
Sleep Apnea
The condition is more prevalent among...
Understanding Sleep
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...
Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
Chronopharmacokinetics: Circadian Rhythms and Influence on Drug Response
The time of drug administration is an important factor to consider, as it can influence the toxic dose of a drug. For example, a study conducted by Prins et al. in 1997 examined the effects of the timing of...
Sleepwalking and Sleep Talking
Factors that increase the likelihood of sleepwalking include sleep deprivation and alcohol consumption. Contrary to common beliefs, it is safe...
Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists

