Effect of Obstructive Sleep Apnea on Neurocognitive Performance

This article reviews the effects of obstructive sleep apnea on neurocognitive performance, proposed mechanisms of cognitive impairment, and the effects of continuous positive airway pressure on performance. Obstructive sleep apnea can affect several domains of neurocognitive performance to include a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inSleep medicine clinics Vol. 15; no. 1; p. 77
Main Authors Seda, Gilbert, Han, Tony S
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.03.2020
Subjects
Learning
Memory
Attention
Psychomotor function
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
Neurocognitive performance
Executive functioning
Obstructive sleep apnea
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Summary:This article reviews the effects of obstructive sleep apnea on neurocognitive performance, proposed mechanisms of cognitive impairment, and the effects of continuous positive airway pressure on performance. Obstructive sleep apnea can affect several domains of neurocognitive performance to include attention and vigilance, memory and learning, psychomotor function, emotional regulation, and executive function. Proposed mechanisms include intermittent hypoxemia, sleep deprivation and fragmentation, hypercapnia, and disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-axis. Continuous positive airway pressure can improve cognitive defects associated with obstructive sleep apnea. More data are needed to determine whether other therapies improve cognitive function.
ISSN:1556-4088
DOI:10.1016/j.jsmc.2019.10.001