Relationship between comorbid insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea [COMISA], inflammation and cognitive decline

Project Summary

Sleep disorders have increasingly been associated with increased risk of cognitive decline, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease, especially obstructive sleep apnea and insomnia. Their concomitant presence could be particularly detrimental to brain health and be associated with faster decline in cognition. Using the comprehensive longitudinal CLSA, we will: 1) Characterize combined sleep apnea and insomnia symptoms in the aging population; 2) Explore how sleep apnea, insomnia, and cognitive decline are associated over time; 3) Determine if inflammation could be a mechanism linking these sleep disorders with cognitive decline; and 4) Evaluate which profile of individuals could be particularly affected by the combined presence of sleep apnea and insomnia on cognition. Results from this study are important to understand the joint contribution of sleep apnea and insomnia to impairments of the aging brain, and support future preventive therapies.