Altered structural brain network resulting from white matter injury in obstructive sleep apnea

Min Hee Lee, Chang Ho Yun, Areum Min, Yoon Ho Hwang, Seung Ku Lee, Dong Youn Kim, Robert J. Thomas, Bong Soo Han, Chol Shin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

To assess, using fractional anisotropy (FA) analysis, alterations of brain network connectivity in adults with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Abnormal networks could mediate clinical functional deficits and reflect brain tissue injury. Methods: Structural brain networks were constructed using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) from 165 healthy (age 57.99 ± 6.02 years, male 27.9%) and 135 OSA participants (age 59.01 ± 5.91 years, male 28.9%) and global network properties (strength, global efficiency, and local efficiency) and regional efficiency were compared between groups. We examined MRI biomarkers of brain tissue injury using FA analysis and its effect on the network properties. Results: Differences between groups of interest were noted in global network properties (p-value < 0.05, corrected), and regional efficiency (p-value < 0.05, corrected) in the left middle cingulate and paracingulate gyri, right posterior cingulate gyrus, and amygdala. In FA analysis, OSA participants showed lower FA values in white matter (WM) of the right transverse temporal, anterior cingulate and paracingulate gyri, and left postcentral, middle frontal and medial frontal gyri, and the putamen. After culling fiber tracts through WM which showed significant differences in FA, we observed no group difference in network properties. Conclusions: Changes in WM integrity and structural connectivity are present in OSA participants. We found that the integrity of WM affected brain network properties. Brain network analysis may improve understanding of neurocognitive deficits in OSA, enable longitudinal tracking, and provides explanations for specific symptoms and recovery kinetics.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberzsz120
JournalSleep
Volume42
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019 Sept 6

Keywords

  • diffusion tensor imaging
  • fractional anisotropy
  • obstructive sleep apnea
  • structural brain network

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine(all)

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