Neurocognitive Correlates of Noctural Oxygen Desaturation in a Memory Clinic Population

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Karim Yamout, University of California, Davis; Felicia Goldstein, Emory University; James J Lah, Emory University; Allan I Levey, Emory University; Donald Bliwise, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2012-01-10
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Psychology Press)
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2012 Psychology Press, an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an Informa business
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1080%2F13803395.2011.642849
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology
• ISSN: 1380-3395
• Volume: 34
• Issue: 3
• Start Page: 325
• End Page: 332
• Grant/Funding Information: This work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (A.I.L., AG-0256688; D.L.B., AG-020269, NS-050595), and a grant from the Alzheimer’s Association (D.L.B.).
• Keywords: Geriatrics; Neuropsychology; Pulse Oximetry; Cardiovascular Disease; Cognitive Disorders; Sleep Apnea
• Research Categories: Biology, Neuroscience

Abstract

Previous studies suggested that sleep apnea is associated with neurocognitive impairments but did not examine populations most likely to have clinically relevant impairments. Cross-sectional, retrospective analyses were performed on 108 patients (65 with Mild Cognitive Impairment, 43 with dementia) seen in an academic medical center. Results indicated that severity of oxygen desaturation was associated with cognitive impairments in attention and executive function domains, even after controlling for age, sex, education and depressive symptoms. Strength of associations was influenced by cardiovascular disease. Screening for nocturnal oxygen desaturation may be a useful procedure to assess for a potentially reversible cause of cognitive impairment.