Exploring the Association Between Cognitive Function, Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Brain Imaging and the Determinants of Neurocognitive Decline in Subjects With Subjective or Mild Cognitive Impairment

What this Trial Is About

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) causes repeated airway blockage during sleep, leading to low oxygen levels and disrupted sleep. This condition is linked to higher risks of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease. The study investigates how OSA, sleep patterns, and brain changes relate to cognitive decline in people with subjective or mild cognitive impairment. Researchers aim to understand if treating OSA can slow down cognitive decline and brain amyloid buildup, a feature of Alzheimer's disease. Participants with subjective or mild cognitive impairment will be observed with or without treatment using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or other clinical management for OSA. Sleep questionnaires, cognitive tests, and home sleep apnea tests will be used at the start and during follow-ups at 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years. A subgroup of 90 participants will receive PET-MRI brain scans at baseline to assess amyloid levels and brain changes related to OSA severity. Throughout the study, participants will complete repeated assessments of cognitive abilities, sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, insomnia, and mood. Researchers will monitor neurocognitive function changes using tests such as ADAS-Cog and MoCA. The study will analyze the impact of OSA and its treatment on brain imaging and cognitive outcomes over three years. The University of Hong Kong sponsors this observational study, which runs until March 2027.

Sleep Apnea, Neurocognitive Decline and Brain Imaging in Patients With Subjective or Mild Cognitive Impairment