Affiliations: [a] Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany
| [b] Klinik für Suchtmedizin und Psychotherapie, kbo Isar-Amper-Klinikum Region München, Haar bei München, Germany
Correspondence:
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Correspondence to: Dirk Schwerthöffer, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Dept. of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; Klinik für Suchtmedizin und Psychotherapie, kbo Isar-Amper-Klinikum Region München, Ringstr. 9, 85540 Haar bei München, Germany. Tel.: +49 162 7103984; E-mail: Dirk.Schwerthoeffer@kbo.de.
Abstract: Background:Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with cognitive disorders, but little is known about prevalence of co-occurring OSA and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) as well as about co-occurring OSA and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Pathophysiological models integrating OSA, cognitive deficits and neurodegeneration remain speculative. Findings in this area could contribute to the knowledge about pathophysiological processes in cognitive disorders and neurodegenerative processes, be helpful for the diagnosis of cognitive disorders and provide approaches for the treatment of cognitive disorders. Objective:Examining the prevalence of OSA and patterns of cognitive deficits as well as AD biomarker profiles associated with OSA in a cohort of 104 MCI patients. Methods:Assessments used include: respiratory polygraphy, The Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease Neuropsychological Battery (CERAD NB), Tau, phosphoTau181, amyloid-β-1–42/1–40, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (F18-FDG-PET). Results:Prevalence of OSA of any severity: 58,7% (Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI)≥5/h), OSA in a moderate-to-severe extent (AHI≥15/h): 25%. Only 13.1% of MCI patients with OSA reported daytime sleepiness. MCI-OSA patients showed no specific neuropsychological pattern. Presence of OSA was not associated with specific AD biomarker profiles in the whole study group besides a positive association between AD positivity in an AD biomarker sub cohort. Conclusions:OSA is highly prevalent in patients with MCI. It might often remain undiagnosed as only a small number of MCI-OSA patients report daytime sleepiness. OSA could contribute to MCI symptoms and even to AD pathology. Further research is needed to validate these findings and to investigate possible pathophysiological relationships between OSA and MCI as well as between OSA and AD.
