Biological and Cognitive Marker of Neurodegeneration in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients
This study aims to understand if obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) affects the brain, specifically looking for early signs of brain changes. Researchers will observe people newly diagnosed with OSA who are about to start a common treatment called positive airway pressure therapy. They'll measure certain brain markers and test memory and thinking skills before treatment begins and again six months later. The main goal is to see if brain changes are present in sleep apnoea, and if sticking to the treatment makes a difference to these changes. By comparing those who regularly use their treatment with those who don't, the study hopes to learn more about how OSA impacts brain health and the potential benefits of consistent treatment.
At a glance
What is this study about?
This research study is trying to understand if obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) – a condition where your breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep – has an effect on your brain over time. Doctors and scientists are interested in whether OSA might be linked to changes in the brain that are sometimes seen in conditions that affect thinking and memory.
The study will look at certain signs in the body (called biomarkers) and also test memory and thinking skills, like how well you concentrate or remember things. They want to find out if people with newly diagnosed sleep apnoea show any of these brain changes. They also want to see if using the recommended sleep apnoea treatment, called positive airway pressure therapy, helps to reduce or prevent these brain changes. This could help us understand how important it is to stick to your treatment.
To do this, researchers will follow people who have just been diagnosed with sleep apnoea. They will check their brain markers and thinking skills before they start their treatment, and then again after six months of using it. By comparing people who use their treatment regularly with those who don't, the study hopes to learn if consistent treatment makes a difference to brain health.
Key takeaways
- The study explores links between sleep apnoea and brain health.
- It observes newly diagnosed patients before and after starting treatment.
- Researchers will check brain markers and thinking skills.
- It aims to see if consistent treatment helps brain changes.
- Participation involves two sets of assessments over six months.
Who may be eligible?
This study is looking for adults aged 18 or over who have recently been told they have obstructive sleep apnoea. You would also need to be starting treatment with a machine that helps you breathe at night, known as positive airway pressure therapy, as recommended by your doctor.
There are certain reasons why you wouldn't be able to join. For example, if you already have a serious brain condition like multiple sclerosis or a neurodegenerative disease. You also couldn't take part if you've had a stroke or a brain injury in the last three months, or if you regularly take certain sleep medications.
The researchers also need participants to have a certain level of kidney function and a good score on a common memory and thinking test. These checks are in place to make sure the study focuses on sleep apnoea and brain changes, rather than other health conditions that might interfere with the results.
Could this study suit you?
Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.
- Are you 18 years old or older?
- Have you recently been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnoea?
- Are you about to start positive airway pressure therapy?
- Do you have a score of 21 or higher on the MoCA memory test?
- Do you NOT have a pre-existing brain condition or recent stroke/injury?
- Are you NOT regularly taking certain sleep medications?
What does participation involve?
If you decide to take part, your journey will involve two main stages. First, before you start your sleep apnoea treatment, you'll have some tests. These will include taking samples (like blood) to look for certain markers in your body, and doing some tasks to test your memory and thinking skills. After this, you'll start your prescribed positive airway pressure therapy as usual.
About six months after you start your treatment, you'll have a second set of assessments. This will be similar to the first visit, involving more samples and tests of your thinking skills. The researchers will also look at how regularly you've been using your sleep apnoea treatment machine. Because this is an 'observational' study, you won't be given any new medications or treatments by the researchers; they will just be observing you and your treatment as prescribed by your own doctor. The total duration of your active involvement in the study would be around six months.
Potential risks and benefits
Locations (1)
- Technische Universität Dresden, Universitätsklinikum DresdenVerified postcodeDresden, Germany· Recruiting
Common questions
What is 'neurodegeneration'?
It refers to changes in the brain that may affect how it works, including memory and thinking skills, over time.
What is positive airway pressure therapy?
It's a common treatment for sleep apnoea where a machine delivers air pressure through a mask to keep your airway open while you sleep.
Do I need to change my sleep apnoea treatment?
No, you will continue with the treatment your own doctor has prescribed for you, and the study will just observe how you get on.
What does 'adherence' mean in this study?
It means how regularly you use your positive airway pressure therapy as recommended by your doctor.
How long does each study visit take?
The study brief summary doesn't specify the exact duration of each visit, but they will likely involve several tests and assessments.
How to find out more
Tony Sehr, MD
Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.
Interested in taking part?
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