Neural Injury in Sleep Apnea

Sleepiness has long been recognized as a presenting symptom in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, but persistent neurocognitive injury from sleep apnea has been appreciated only recently.

Although therapy for sleep apnea markedly improves daytime symptoms, cognitive impairments may persist despite long-term therapy with continuous positive airway pressure.

We know now that certain groups of neurons, typically those that are more metabolically active, are more vulnerable to injury than others. Animal models of sleep apnea oxygenation patterns have been instrumental in elucidating mechanisms of injury.

The hypoxia/reoxygenation events result in oxidative, inflammatory, and endoplasmic reticulum stress responses in susceptible neural groups. With molecular pathways being fleshed out in animal models, it is time to carefully and systematically examine neural injury in humans and test the applicability of findings from animal models.

However, we cannot view sleep apnea as an isolated process. Rather, injury in sleep apnea is more likely the consequence of overlapping injuries from comorbid conditions.

The progress in elucidating mechanisms of neural injury is palpable, and it now seems we  indeed are closer to developing therapies to prevent and treat neural injury in obstructive sleep apnea.

Tagged with: continuous positive airway pressure • Hypoxemia - Endoplasmic reticulum stress - Oxidation - Wake-active neurons - Locus coeruleus - Motor neurons • injury in sleep apnea • neural injury • neural injury in obstructive sleep apnea • neurocognitive injury from sleep apnea • Obstructive Sleep Apnea • Sleep Apnea • Sleepiness • symptom in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome • therapy for sleep apnea

Filed under: Clinical Research • CPAP • CPAP Therapy • Obstructive Sleep Apnea • Other Disorders • Sleep • Sleep Apnea • Sleep Apnea Diagnosis • Sleep Apnea Effects • Sleep Apnea Research • Sleep Apnea Study • Sleep Problems

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