Ruth O'Hara

Publication Details

• Nocturnal sleep apnea/hypopnea is associated with lower memory performance in APOE epsilon4 carriers.

  O'Hara R, Schröder CM, Kraemer HC, Kryla N, Cao C, Miller E, Schatzberg AF, Yesavage JA, Murphy GM. Neurology. 2005; 65 (4): 642-4

  The authors investigated the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea (OSAH) and cognition in 36 older adults, 18 APOE epsilon4 carriers, and 18 non-carriers. Greater numbers of respiratory events negatively impacted memory function in epsilon4 carriers only. This is the first study to provide preliminary evidence for a negative interaction of APOE epsilon4 and OSAH on memory in older adults, which may have important implications for treating cognitive decline and delaying dementia onset.

  PubMedID: 16116137