Cognition and biomarkers of oxidative stress in obstructive sleep apnea

Authors

  • Leticia Viana Sales Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP); Departamento de Psicobiologia
  • Veralice Meireles Sales de Bruin Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC); Faculdade de Medicina
  • Vania D'Almeida Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP); Departamento de Psicobiologia
  • Sabine Pompéia Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP); Departamento de Psicobiologia
  • Orlando Francisco Amodeo Bueno Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP); Departamento de Psicobiologia
  • Sérgio Tufik Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP); Departamento de Psicobiologia
  • Lia Bittencourt Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP); Departamento de Psicobiologia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/clin.v68i4.76786

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate neuropsychological performance and biomarkers of oxidative stress in patients with obstructive sleep apnea and the relationships between these factors. METHODS: This was an observational, cross-sectional study of 14 patients (36.0±6.5 years old) with obstructive sleep apnea and 13 controls (37.3±6.9 years old). All of the participants were clinically evaluated and underwent full-night polysomnography as well as neuropsychological tests. Blood samples were used to assay superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione and homocysteine, as well as vitamins E, C, B11 and B12. RESULTS: The patients performed poorly relative to the controls on several neuropsychological tests, such as the attention test and tests of long-term memory and working memory/executive function. They also had lower levels of vitamin E (p<0.006), superoxide dismutase (p<0.001) and vitamin B11 (p<0.001), as well as higher concentrations of homocysteine (p<0.02). Serum concentrations of vitamin C, catalase, glutathione and vitamin B12 were unaltered. Vitamin E levels were related to performance in the backward digit span task (F = 15.9; p = 0.002) and this correlation remained after controlling for age and body mass index (F = 6.3, p = 0.01). A relationship between superoxide dismutase concentrations and executive non-perseveration errors in the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (F = 7.9; p = 0.01) was also observed. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased levels of antioxidants and lower performance on the neuropsychological tasks were observed in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. This study suggests that an imbalance between antioxidants and pro-oxidants may contribute to neuropsychological alterations in this patient population.

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Published

2013-04-01

Issue

Section

Clinical Sciences

How to Cite

Sales, L. V., de Bruin, V. M. S., D'Almeida, V., Pompéia, S., Bueno, O. F. A., Tufik, S., & Bittencourt, L. (2013). Cognition and biomarkers of oxidative stress in obstructive sleep apnea. Clinics, 68(4), 449-455. https://doi.org/10.1590/clin.v68i4.76786