title: Cognitive deficits in adults with obstructive sleep apnea compared to children and adolescents.
abstract: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can negatively affect the patient's physical and psychological functioning, as well as their quality of life. A major consequence of OSA is impaired cognitive functioning. Indeed, several studies have shown that OSA mainly leads to deficits in executive functions, attention, and memory. As OSA can present in all age groups, these associated cognitive deficits have been observed in adults, as well as in children and adolescents. However, these cognitive deficits may have a different clinical picture in young patients compared to adults. In this review, we analyze the most affected cognitive domains in adults and children/adolescents with OSA, as evaluated by neuropsychological and neuroimaging studies. We found that deficits in working memory, attention, or executive functions cognitive domains are found in both adults and children with OSA. However, children with OSA also show changes in behavior and phonological processing necessary for proper development. Moreover, we examine the possible OSA treatments in children and adults that can have a positive influence on cognition, and therefore, improve patients' general functioning and quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Silesia, ul. Ziołowa 45/47, 60-635, Katowice, Poland. krysta@mp.pl.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krysta
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Silesia, ul. Ziołowa 45/47, 60-635, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bratek
authors.affiliation: Department of Pneumonology, Medical University of Silesia, ul. Medyków 14, 40-752, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Karolina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zawada
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Center FENIKS, ul. Grunwaldzka 46, 41-800, Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Radosław
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stepańczak
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy
keywords: Cognitive science; Neuroimaging; Neuropsychological tests; Obstructive sleep apnea; Sleep apnea syndromes