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. 2019 Jul-Sep;10(3):57-61.
doi: 10.5005/jp-journals-10001-1373.

Role of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Cognitive Impairment

Pamela Barletta  1 , Alexandre R Abreu  1 , Alberto R Ramos  1 , Salim I Dib  1 , Carlos Torre  1 , Alejandro D Chediak  1
Affiliations

Role of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Cognitive Impairment

Pamela Barletta et al. Int J Head Neck Surg. 2019 Jul-Sep.

Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent sleep related breathing disorder characterized by repetitive collapse of the upper airways leading to intermittent hypoxia and sleep disruption. Clinically relevant neurocognitive, metabolic and cardiovascular disease often occurs in OSA. Systemic hypertension, coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cerebral vascular infarctions and atrial fibrillation are among the most often cited conditions with causal connections to OSA. Emerging science suggest that untreated and undertreated OSA increases the risk of developing cognitive impairment, including vascular dementia and neurodegenerative disorders, like Alzheimer's disease. As with OSA, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus, the incidence of dementia increases with age. Given our rapidly aging population, dementia prevalence will significantly increase. The aim of this treatise is to review current literature linking OSA to dementia and explore putative mechanisms by which OSA might facilitate the development and progression of dementia.

Keywords: Cognitive; Comorbidities; Dementia; Obstructive sleep apnea.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None

Figures

Flowchart 1:
Flowchart 1:. Proposed mechanisms by which OSA impairs cognition
OSA, obstructive sleep apnea; ASCVD, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; SA, sympathomimetic activation; INF, inflammation; BA, beta amyloid accumulation; OS, oxidative stress; ED, endothelial dysfunction; MD, myelin decrease; NE, neural excitability, reduced; TAU, Tau hyperphosphorylation
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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