Improvements in cognitive function and quantitative sleep electroencephalogram in obstructive sleep apnea after six months of continuous positive airway pressure treatment

Angela L. D'Rozario*, Camilla M. Hoyos, Keith K. H. Wong, Gunnar Unger, Jong Won Kim, Andrew Vakulin, Chien-Hui Kao, Sharon L. Naismith, Delwyn J. Bartlett, Ronald R. Grunstein

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Citations (Scopus)
46 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Study Objectives: Untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with cognitive deficits and altered brain electrophysiology. We evaluated the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on quantitative sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) measures and cognitive function. Methods: We studied 167 patients with OSA (age 50 ± 13, AHI 35.0 ± 26.8) before and after 6 months of CPAP. Cognitive tests assessed working memory, sustained attention, visuospatial scanning, and executive function. All participants underwent overnight polysomnography at baseline and after CPAP. Power spectral analysis was performed on EEG data (C3-M2) in a sub-set of 90 participants. Relative delta EEG power and sigma power in NREM and EEG slowing in REM were calculated. Spindle densities (events/min) in N2 were also derived using automated spindle event detection. All outcomes were analysed as change from baseline. Results: Cognitive function across all cognitive domains improved after six months of CPAP. In our sub-set, increased relative delta power (p < .0001) and reduced sigma power (p = .001) during NREM were observed after the 6-month treatment period. Overall, fast and slow sleep spindle densities during N2 were increased after treatment. Conclusions: Cognitive performance was improved and sleep EEG features were enhanced when assessing the effects of CPAP. These findings suggest the reversibility of cognitive deficits and altered brain electrophysiology observed in untreated OSA following six months of treatment.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberzsac013
Pages (from-to)1-9
Number of pages9
JournalSleep
Volume45
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2022
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Copyright the Author(s) 2022. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

Keywords

  • power spectral analysis
  • performance
  • sleep-disordered breathing
  • positive airway pressure
  • neurophysiology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Improvements in cognitive function and quantitative sleep electroencephalogram in obstructive sleep apnea after six months of continuous positive airway pressure treatment'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this