22 Oct CHEST 2014: Obstructive Sleep Apnea Linked To Cognitive Difficulties in Postmenopausal Women
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Chitra Lal, MD. Assistant Professor
Medical University of South Carolina
Medical Research: What are the main findings of the study?
Dr. Lal: We studied the prevalence of cognitive problems in early postmenopausal women (age 45-60 years) with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS+) and without obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS-) using a questionnaire called the Mail-In Cognitive Function Screening Instrument (MCFSI).
We found that the mean MCFSI scores after adjusting for depression were significantly higher in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome+ then the OSAS- group, indicating more self-reported cognitive difficulty in OSAS+ women
Medical Research: What was most surprising about the results?
Dr. Lal: Preliminary results on functional MRI scanning showed differences in brain activation patterns in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome+ women with greater self-reported cognitive difficulty as compared to women with less cognitive difficulty.
Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?
Dr. Lal:
1. Our findings indicate that early postmenopausal women with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome report more cognitive problems than those without obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.
- Cognitive dysfunction and OSAS may modulate brain activation patterns on fMRI.
Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Dr. Lal: Given the association of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome with cognitive problems, future large studies should fully evaluate the impact of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome on cognition in postmenopausal women.
Citation:
CHEST 2014.
Cognitive Impairment and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome in Early Postmenopausal Women
Poster Number: 2944 CHEST 2104
Last Updated on October 22, 2014 by Marie Benz MD FAAD