Cognitive and socio–cognitive deficits in patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is one of the most common sleep breathing disorders (SRBDs). It is associated with (under-recognized) cognitive impairment as well as with psychiatric disorders, motor vehicle accidents, low work performance, low social functioning and decrease in quality of life. As a result of the cognitive deficits that characterize patients with OSA, the syndrome has been included in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders. However, it is not clear whether OSA causes an impairment in the majority cognitive processes or whether it affects only some and specific cognitive skills. In this study we assessed 29 previously untreated severe OSA patients (mean age of 55.6 ± 9.9 years) on wide range of cognitive skills as well as (for first time) on socio-cognitive skills. A control group was also enrolled. Data were analysed with a Bayesian approach. The final aim of the study was to address an open fundamental question in experimental psychology and socio-cognitive neuroscience literatures: is there a "social brain" specialized in the processing social stimuli? Results indicate that OSA does not affect all cognitive processes, but mainly executive and socio-cognitive skills. Finally, our results support a dissociation between socio-cognitive ability and other domain-general cognitive functions. OSA affect mainly (and independently of each other) executive and social brain.