Potential Mechanisms of Secondary Brain Dysfunction to Obstructive Sleep Apnea: The Brain Asymmetry

Sunday, September 29, 2024

3:24 PM – 3:30 PM EDT

Location: MBCC, 238-239

Disclosure(s):

Jianhong Liao, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a major cause of sleep disorders and mental disorders in individuals. Brain asymmetry (BA) is a potential indicator of mental, motivation, and brain diseases. However, the pathological mechanisms of brain dysfunction secondary to OSA and the relationship between OSA and BA remain unclear.

Methods: From June to October 2022, subjects underwent polysomnography (PSG) and scale assessments at the Sleep Medicine Center of Tongren Hospital in Beijing, China. PSG was evaluated in the frontal (F3-A2, F4-A1), central (C3-A2, C4-A1) and occipital (O1-A2, O2-A1) regions using the 10-20 International Standard System. Subsequently, respiratory events (apnea or hypopnea) with a duration of >15s were extracted and divided into segments of 5s at the beginning (D1), in the middle (D2), and at the end (D3) of the respiratory event. Segments 5-10s (B1) and 0-5s (B2) before the respiratory event and 0-5s (A1) and 5-10 (A2) after the respiratory event were also analyzed. Additionally, the interval between respiratory events was greater than 20s to minimize interactions between respiratory events. Power spectrum density differences in bilateral EEG activity were calculated for the frontal, central, and occipital regions.

Results: The study included 71 subjects and 13,520 respiratory events were extracted. The right hemisphere is responsible for normal sleep before and after respiratory events. In the frontal region, BA was elevated during the event and recovered at the end of the event (P < 0.001), with a uniform pattern across bands. In the central region, there was a similar elevation in BA (P < 0.001), but the trend in BA change was not uniform across bands. In occipital regions, a decrease in BA during respiratory events and left-sided EEG activity was observed (P < 0.001).

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that respiratory events trigger an increase in right hemispheric activity in frontal and central regions and a decrease in occipital regions. In addition to previous studies, BA abnormalities may play a role in impaired emotional or motivational regulation secondary to OSA.

Presenting Author(s)

Jianhong Liao, MD

Doctor
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730, People’s Republic of China
Beijing, Beijing, China (People's Republic)

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Co-Author(s)

YS

Yunhan Shi, MD

Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730, People’s Republic of China, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
YL

Yanru Li, MD

Attending Physician
Beijing Tongren Hospital
Beijing, Beijing, China (People's Republic)

Disclosure information not submitted.
WX

Wen Xu, PhD

Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730, People’s Republic of China, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
DH

Demin Han, PhD

Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730, People’s Republic of China, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.

Senior Author(s)

DH

Demin Han, PhD

Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730, People’s Republic of China, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.