Association of obstructive sleep apnea with cognitive decline and age among non-demented older adults

Neurosci Lett. 2021 Jun 21:756:135955. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.135955. Epub 2021 May 9.

Abstract

We aimed to investigate whether obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) status affects the relationship between cognitive decline and age among non-demented elderly people. A total of 1422 participants (493 normal cognition and 929 amnestic mild cognitive impairment) were obtained from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) cohort. Based on the self-reported medical history of OSA, participants were categorized into two groups (OSA- and OSA +). Multiple linear regression models were performed to assess the effect of the OSA * Age interaction on MMSE, ADAS-cog11 and RAVLT immediate recall in non-demented group and in APOE ε4 carriers/non-carriers adjusting for gender and educational attainment. In the present study, the OSA + group demonstrated significant cognitive decline versus the OSA- group. In addition, in APOE ε4- group, our findings showed a significant OSA * age interaction for ADAS-cog11 and RVALT immediate recall, but not MMSE. No significant interaction was observed in the APOE ε4+ individuals. In conclusion, our findings implicate that OSA status may affect the association of age with cognitive impairment among non-demented older people.

Keywords: APOE ε4; Age; Alzheimer’s disease; Cognition; Sleep apnea.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aging / psychology*
  • Apolipoprotein E4 / genetics
  • Cognition / physiology*
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / complications*
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / complications*

Substances

  • Apolipoprotein E4