The overarching goal of the research proposed here is to test the hypothesis (i) that the pathophysiological mechanisms of OSA lead to deterioration in sleep-dependent memory consolidation across memory systems, with the genetic marker APOε4 as a modulator, and (ii) that CPAP can reverse some or all of these measured memory deficits. In addition, we are exploring which aspects of OSA (e.g., changes in sleep architecture, measures of hypoxemia, or the EEG power spectrum) most likely impact sleep-dependent memory processing.To this end, we are using specific cognitive tasks for which sleep-dependent memory consolidation processes have previously been demonstrated by our group and others. In addition, we are carrying out quantitative EEG power spectral analyses, to delineate abnormal functioning of brain regions with more precision.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
33
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Overnight Change in Declarative Memory Performance
At 3 months, we compared average overnight changes between evening and morning performance on a declarative memory test between untreated OSA subjects and those who received CPAP therapy for 3 months. Positive numbers represent an increase in performance.
Time frame: 3 months
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