TY - JOUR
T1 - Cognition in obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAS)
T2 - Current clinical knowledge and the impact of treatment
AU - Kielb, Stephanie A.
AU - Ancoli-Israel, Sonia
AU - Rebok, George W.
AU - Spira, Adam P.
N1 - Funding Information:
Acknowledgments Dr. Spira is supported by a Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01AG033195) from the National Institute on Aging. Dr. Ancol-Israel is supported by NIA AG08415, UL1RR031980 (CTRI), the UCSD Stein Institute for Research on Aging and the Department of Veterans Affairs Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health (CESAMH).
PY - 2012/9
Y1 - 2012/9
N2 - Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAS) is characterized by the presence of disordered breathing events that occur during sleep, as well as symptoms such as sleepiness and snoring. OSAS is associated with a number of adverse health consequences, and a growing literature focuses on its cognitive correlates. Although research in this field is mixed, multiple studies indicate that OSAS patients show impairment in attention, memory, and executive function. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the most effective and widely used treatment of OSAS, and supplemental medications may supplement CPAP treatment to ameliorate associated symptoms. Here, we review the literature on OSAS and cognition, including studies that have investigated the impact of CPAP and stimulant medication on cognitive performance in patients with OSAS. In general, no consistent effect of CPAP use on cognitive performance was evident. This may be due, in part, to variability in study design and sampling methodology across studies. Studies of stimulant medications generally reported positive effects on cognitive performance. We conclude with a discussion of the mechanisms that have been proposed to explain cognitive dysfunction in OSAS and directions for future research.
AB - Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAS) is characterized by the presence of disordered breathing events that occur during sleep, as well as symptoms such as sleepiness and snoring. OSAS is associated with a number of adverse health consequences, and a growing literature focuses on its cognitive correlates. Although research in this field is mixed, multiple studies indicate that OSAS patients show impairment in attention, memory, and executive function. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the most effective and widely used treatment of OSAS, and supplemental medications may supplement CPAP treatment to ameliorate associated symptoms. Here, we review the literature on OSAS and cognition, including studies that have investigated the impact of CPAP and stimulant medication on cognitive performance in patients with OSAS. In general, no consistent effect of CPAP use on cognitive performance was evident. This may be due, in part, to variability in study design and sampling methodology across studies. Studies of stimulant medications generally reported positive effects on cognitive performance. We conclude with a discussion of the mechanisms that have been proposed to explain cognitive dysfunction in OSAS and directions for future research.
KW - CPAP
KW - Cognition
KW - Obstructive sleep apnea
KW - Stimulant
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U2 - 10.1007/s12017-012-8182-1
DO - 10.1007/s12017-012-8182-1
M3 - Review article
C2 - 22569877
AN - SCOPUS:84865622151
SN - 1535-1084
VL - 14
SP - 180
EP - 193
JO - Neuromolecular medicine
JF - Neuromolecular medicine
IS - 3
ER -