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Improved cognitive functions after treatment with an oral appliance in obstructive sleep apnea

Authors Tegelberg, Wilhelmsson, Erixon-Lindroth, Lindström

Received 13 May 2012

Accepted for publication 20 June 2012

Published 22 August 2012 Volume 2012:4 Pages 89—96

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/NSS.S33849

Checked for plagiarism Yes

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 3



Åke Tegelberg,1,4,5 Bo Wilhelmsson,2 Nina Erixon-Lindroth,6 Leif H Lindström3,4

1
Department of Stomatognathic Physiology, 2Department of Otorhinolaryngology, 3Department of Psychiatry, Central Hospital, Västerås, Sweden; 4Centre for Clinical Research, Uppsala University, Central Hospital, Västerås, Sweden; 5Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden; 6Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of oral appliance (OA) treatment on cognitive functions in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Materials and methods: In a prospective study, 50 male patients with verified moderate-to-severe OSA received an OA with mandibular advancement. The cognitive functions assessed included working memory, vigilance, executive functioning, and mental pace, measured before as well as after 6 months of treatment. Somnography was used to measure physiological treatment effects. Forty-three patients completed the 6-month follow-up study.
Results: All domains of cognitive functioning measured improved after 6 months of treatment with an OA (P < 0.001). The apnea/hypopnea- and oxygen desaturation-indices decreased significantly after treatment (P < 0.01). An obvious treatment response was reached in 60% of the patients, and 54% of the patients had recovered ie, had normalized breathing during sleep.
Conclusion: OA with mandibular advancement is a treatment modality for the physiological symptoms of OSA, and may have a positive impact on cognitive functions, after only 6 months of treatment.

Keywords: clinical trial, cognition, oral appliance, sleep apnea, treatment

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