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Cognitive Effects of Treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Alzheimer's Disease: A Randomized Controlled Study
Author(s) -
AncoliIsrael Sonia,
Palmer Barton W.,
Cooke Jana R.,
CoreyBloom Jody,
Fiorentino Lavinia,
Natarajan Loki,
Liu Lianqi,
Ayalon Liat,
He Feng,
Loredo Jose S.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2008.01934.x
Subject(s) - medicine , continuous positive airway pressure , randomized controlled trial , obstructive sleep apnea , cognition , neuropsychology , sleep apnea , dementia , placebo , physical therapy , polysomnography , disease , apnea , psychiatry , alternative medicine , pathology
OBJECTIVES: To examine whether treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) results in better cognitive function. DESIGN: Randomized double‐blind placebo‐controlled trial. Participants were randomized to therapeutic CPAP for 6 weeks or placebo CPAP for 3 weeks followed by therapeutic CPAP for 3 weeks. SETTING: General clinical research center. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty‐two men and women with mild to moderate AD and OSA. INTERVENTION: CPAP. MEASUREMENTS: A complete neuropsychological test battery was administered before treatment and at 3 and at 6 weeks. RESULTS: A comparison of subjects randomized to 3 weeks of therapeutic versus placebo CPAP suggested no significant improvements in cognition. A comparison of pre‐ and posttreatment neuropsychological test scores after 3 weeks of therapeutic CPAP in both groups showed a significant improvement in cognition. The study was underpowered to make definitive statements about improvements within specific cognitive constructs, although exploratory post hoc examination of change scores for individual tests suggested improvements in episodic verbal learning and memory and some aspects of executive functioning such as cognitive flexibility and mental processing speed. CONCLUSION: OSA may aggravate cognitive dysfunction in dementia and thus may be a reversible cause of cognitive loss in patients with AD. OSA treatment seems to improve some cognitive functioning. Clinicians who care for patients with AD should consider implementing CPAP treatment when OSA is present.