Inflammation and Neurocognitive Damage Markers in Elderly People With Obstructive Sleep Apnea

An intermittent hypoxia in obstructive sleep apnea induces the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), oxidative damage and inflammation generating pro-inflammatory cytokines, reactive gliosis and neuronal damage. The increase in oxidative damage seems to be associated to age, contributing to the progress of neurodegeneration. Transient hypoxemia leads to autonomic excitation causing hyperactivity of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), and activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, causing immunological changes and increased risk of damage to mental functions. Night awakenings caused by OSA are associated with changes on the HPA axis, resulting in increased serum cortisol levels. The fluctuation in serum cortisol levels at night is intrinsically related to sleep, and increases with advancing age. BDNF is responsible for increasing the growth of neurites, and synaptogenesis, preventing programmed cell death in adults, and is involved in stress responses on the HPA axis. Low BDNF levels are associated to cognitive impairment, less memory consolidation, depression, and OSA. There is a positive correlation between levels of BDNF and cortisol related to physiological regulation of brain activities. The increase in oxidative damage caused by intermittent hypoxia during obstructive sleep apnea increases serum levels of the s100β protein promoting reactive gliosis or astrogliosis being associated to depression in the elderly. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is associated with development of cardiovascular and neurological diseases by activating pro-inflammatory pathways. However, in elderly individuals, regardless of other specific pathologies, they already have a pro-inflammatory state secondary to loss of regulation of the immune system.