title: Obstructive sleep apnea and its controversial effects on cognition.
abstract: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is a sleep disorder that may affect many brain functions. We are interested in the cognitive consequences of the condition with regard to the quality of life of individuals with this disorder. A debate is still underway as to whether cognitive difficulties caused by obstructive sleep apnea actually induce a "pseudodementia" pattern. This work provides a brief overview of the main controversies currently surrounding this issue. We report findings and opinions on structural and cognitive brain changes in individuals affected by obstructive sleep apnea by highlighting the involvement of executive functions and the possible reversibility of signs following-treatment with continuous positive airway pressure. Much research has been done on this issue but, to the best of our knowledge, a review of the present state of the literature evaluating different points of view has not yet been carried out.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Human and Social Sciences , University of Bergamo , Bergamo , Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Devita
authors.affiliation: b Department of General Psychology , University of Padua , Padua , Italy.|c Human Inspired Technology Research Centre , University of Padua , Padua , Italy.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Montemurro
authors.affiliation: d Internal Medicine Unit , Figlie di S. Camillo , Cremona , Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramponi
authors.affiliation: d Internal Medicine Unit , Figlie di S. Camillo , Cremona , Italy.|e Department of Internal Medicine and Pneumology , University of Parma , Parma , Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marvisi
authors.affiliation: f Neuromotor Rehabilitation Unit , Figlie di S. Camillo , Cremona , Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Villani
authors.affiliation: f Neuromotor Rehabilitation Unit , Figlie di S. Camillo , Cremona , Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Clara
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Raimondi
authors.affiliation: a Department of Human and Social Sciences , University of Bergamo , Bergamo , Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Rusconi
authors.affiliation: b Department of General Psychology , University of Padua , Padua , Italy.|c Human Inspired Technology Research Centre , University of Padua , Padua , Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2144-9435
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mondini
mesh_terms: D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy
keywords: Cognitive deficits; Continuous positive airway pressure; Frontal lobe; Hippocampus; Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome; Sleep apnea.