Obstructive Sleep Apneas in Elderly:Neuroimaging Changes and Neurocognitive Function Before and After Treatment

In the near future more than 20% of the European population will be over 65 years old and the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in this aged population is known to be higher than 50%. OSA is a risk factor for cognitive dysfunction in middle-aged subjects, but the relationship between cognitive impairment and sleep breathing disorders (SBD) in the elderly has scarcely been observed. The aim of this study is to investigate cognitive performance in elderly OSA patients, the corresponding brain morphology changes and biological markers and their reversibility with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment.