Sleep Apnea Destroys Grey Matter

OK, so I'm obese.
--And my brain was going to pot--at least before CPAP.
And the lard is easing off a bit--I didn't expect a cure--just relief
And to get back into my good jeans. . .

Other research indicates that compliant CPAP restores the grey matter.

SLEEP, Volume 33, Abstract Supplement, 2010
0329
BRAIN STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN OSA PATIENTS BEFORE AND AFTER
TREATMENT
Ferini Strambi L1, Canessa N2,3,4, Castronovo V1, Alemanno F3,4, Aloia MS5, Marelli S1,
Falini A6, Cappa SF2,3,4
1Sleep Disorders Center, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University and San Raffaele Scientific
Institute, Milan, Italy, 2CRESA, Vita- Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy, 3Center
for Cognitive Neuroscience, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy, 4CERMAC,
Vita-Salute San Raffaele University and San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy,
5Department of Medicine, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, CO,
United States, 6Neuroradiology Unit, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University and San Raffaele
Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy

Introduction: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) leads to sleep fragmentation and intermittent
hypoxemia and is commonly associated with neurocognitive impairments that, however, have not
been consistently related to specific brain structure abnormalities. Knowledge of the brain structures
involved in OSA and the corresponding functional implications could provide clues to the
pathogenesis of cognitive impairment and its reversibility in OSA. Aim of the study was to assess
structural brain changes in severe OSA (AHI > = 30) patients before and after CPAP treatment.

Methods: We used Voxel-Based-Morphometry (VBM) to investigate significant brain morphology
changes, in particular grey-matter volume increases, in 17 patients: a) before treatment (BL) (patients
compared to 15 normal controls); b) at 3-months follow-up (compared to BL) and b) at one-year
follow-up (compared to 3-months). VBM data were collected using a 3 Tesla scanner (Philips
Achieva). Statistical analysis was performed using SPM5 software.

Results: At BL patients showed focal reductions of grey-matter volume in the left hippocampus
(enthorinal cortex), posterior parietal cortex, and right superior frontal gyrus. After 3-months CPAP
treatment, we observed significant grey-matter volume increase in hippocampal and frontal
structures. After 1-year CPAP treatment we did not find any region showing a significant grey-matter
volume increase when using a statistical threshold corrected for multiple comparisons (at the voxellevel,
or at the cluster-level). When using an uncorrected P < 0.001 statistical threshold, we observed
only small clusters of grey-matter volume increase in the left posterior dorsal insula and in the left
cerebellum. Overall, our results show significant grey-matter volume expansions after 3-months
CPAP treatment without further improvement after 1-year.

Conclusion: Our study provide evidence of a neuro-structural damage in OSA patients (decrease
of grey-matter volume compared with controls) affecting specific cerebral regions and an increase
of grey-matter volume in specific hippocampal and frontal brain regions with treatment. This study
offers hope to patients and physicians that adherence to CPAP therapy can lead not only to clinical,
but also to brain-structural recovery.

Support (If Any):
Respironics Foundation, Pittsburg, USA

Unfortunately, I cannot find a free copy of this article online. The SLEEP journal makes articles available for free after a waiting period, which had not yet expired.

Other research indicates that compliant CPAP restores the grey matter.

Good point.

I would say CPAP allows you to sleep and breathe and allows the natural functions of the body and brain to do healing of the grey matter.

roster, you had previously provided a link to the research described in the quoted abstract. I greatly appreciate such links. Thank you.