Functional connectivity in default mode network correlates with severity of hypoxemia in obstructive sleep apnea

Ya Ting Chang*, Yung Che Chen, Yung Lung Chen, Shih Wei Hsu, Feng Yueh Yang, Chen Chang Lee, Po Yuan Hsu, Meng Chih Lin*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)-associated hypoxemia, sleep fragmentation, and cerebral vascular dysfunction are implicated in cognitive dysfunction. Functional connectivity within default mode network (DMN) is a possible mechanism underlying the cognitive impairment. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of hypoxemia and sleep fragmentation on functional connectivity and on cognitive performance in patients with OSA. Methods: Twenty-eight patients with OSA were included (mean age = 58.0 ± 8.5 years). We correlated the functional connectivity in DMN with cognitive performances and further analyzed the relationship of functional connectivity in DMN with hypoxemia severity, as revealed by apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), oxygen desaturation index (ODI), and nadir SaO2 (%), and with degree of sleep fragmentation, as shown by sleep efficiency and wake after sleep onset. Results: Functional connectivity in DMN was associated with AHI, ODI, and nadir SaO2 (%) (p <.05) and was not associated with sleep fragmentation measures (p >.05). Functional connectivity that was associated with AHI, ODI, and nadir SaO2 (%) was in the areas of bilateral middle temporal gyri, bilateral frontal pole, and bilateral hippocampus and was positively correlated with Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (CASI) total score (ρ = 0.484; p =.012), CASI-List-generating, CASI-Attention, and composite score of CASI-List-generating plus CASI-Attention (p <.05). Conclusion: Functional connectivity in DMN is implicated in impairment of global cognitive function and of attention in OSA patients. The functional connectivity in the DMN is associated with hypoxemia rather than with sleep fragmentation.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere01889
JournalBrain and Behavior
Volume10
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - 12 2020

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 The Authors. Brain and Behavior published by Wiley Periodicals LLC

Keywords

  • cognition
  • neuroimaging

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