Association of Sleep-Disordered Breathing With Cognitive Function and Risk of Cognitive Impairment

Abstract

IMPORTANCE Growing evidence suggests an association between sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and cognitive decline in elderly persons. However, results from population-based studies have been conflicting, possibly owing to different methods to assess SDB or cognitive domains, making it difficult to draw conclusions on this association. OBJECTIVE To provide a quantitative synthesis of population-based studies on the relationship between SDB and risk of cognitive impairment. DATA SOURCES PubMed, EMBASE, and PsychINFO were systematically searched to identify peer-reviewed articles published in English before January 2017 that reported on the association between SDB and cognitive function. STUDY SELECTION We included cross-sectional and prospective studies with at least 200 participants with a mean participant age of 40 years or older. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS Data were extracted independently by 2 investigators. We extracted and pooled adjusted risk ratios from prospective studies and standard mean differences from cross-sectional studies, using random-effect models. This meta-analysis followed the PRISMA guidelines and also adhered to the MOOSE guidelines. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Cognitive outcomes were based on standard tests or diagnosis of cognitive impairment. Sleep-disordered breathing was ascertained by apnea-hypopnea index or clinical diagnosis. RESULTS We included 14 studies, 6 of which were prospective, covering a total of 4 288 419 men and women. Pooled analysis of the 6 prospective studies indicated that those with SDB were 26% (risk ratio, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.05-1.50) more likely to develop cognitive impairment, with no evidence of publication bias but significant heterogeneity between studies. After removing 1 study that introduced significant heterogeneity, the pooled risk ratio was 1.35 (95% CI, 1.11-1.65). Pooled analysis of the 7 cross-sectional studies suggested that those with SDB had slightly worse executive function (standard mean difference, −0.05; 95% CI, −0.09 to 0.00), with no evidence of heterogeneity or publication bias. Sleep-disordered breathing was not associated with global cognition or memory. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Sleep-disordered breathing is associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment and a small worsening in executive function. Further studies are required to determine the mechanisms linking these common conditions and whether treatment of SDB might reduce risk of cognitive impairment.

Post-Concussion Syndrome and Sleep Apnea: A Retrospective Study

“…Sleep-disordered breathing has been associated with cognitive impairment across many domains including attention/working memory, global cognition, and delayed recall [12]. Similarly, the present study revealed significantly lower immediate recall scores in PCS patients with sleep apnea compared with those without, although it did not survive multiple comparisons.…”

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Associations between sleep conditions and body composition states: results of the EPISONO study

“…This sleep disorder is related to a variety of health-related consequences across all age groups, including increased risk of cognitive impairment, depression, metabolic disorders, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, atrial fibrillation, and mortality. [43][44][45] Possibly, these outcomes might be in part explained by the association between OSA and SO.…”

Associations between sleep duration and cognitive impairment in mild cognitive impairment

“…Sleep disturbances are common in the elderly, with as many as 50% of those aged over 65 years reporting a chronic sleep complaint (Neikrug & Ancoli-Israel, 2010). Numerous studies have examined the association between disturbed sleep and cognitive performance in the elderly (Leng, McEnvoy, Allen, & Yaffe, 2017;Shi et al, 2018). Some of these studies have reported that insomniatype symptoms in community-dwelling elderly people are associated with cognitive decline (Basta et al, 2018;Cricco, Simonisick, & Foley, 2001;Jelicic et al, 2002).…”