https://doi.org/10.1140/epjs/s11734-026-02184-3
Regular Article
The brain determinants of cognitive dysfunction in adolescents with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome and obesity
Scientific Centre for Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems, 16, Timiryazev str., 664003, Irkutsk, Russia
a
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Received:
14
December
2025
Accepted:
2
February
2026
Published online:
23
February
2026
Abstract
Due to advances in the early detection of many disease biomarkers, any physiological measures that are sensitive to concurrent, subtle cognitive decline are critically needed. The brain during sleep is a key focus of research in this area, especially in any hypoxic states, i.e., obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, the available data in the pediatric population are limited and contradictory. A total of 65 OSA male adolescents aged 15–17 years (40 obese and 25 non-obese) were included. Type I 11-chanal polysomnography (PSG) with sleep spindle (SS) detection and spectral analysis, Wechsler intelligence test (WISC-IV), and plasma beta-amyloid 42 (Aβ42) contents were used to evaluate the participant’s SS activities, cognition, and amyloid burden. Binominal logistic regression and ROC analysis were used to assess any determinants of cognitive dysfunction in adolescents with OSA and comorbid obesity. The study results demonstrated showed lower WISC-IV scores, higher Aβ42 level, and more altered SS pattern in obese subjects. On the results of binomial logistic regression, the most significant brain determinants were fragmentation index (FI), SS_f—mean frequency of SS, and Aβ42 content. According to the results of the ROC analysis, the point of cutoff for FI was > 11.5 e/h, for SS_f ≤ 9.5 Hz, and for Aβ42—> 3.8 pg/ml. This research has allowed us to supplement existing knowledge regarding the specific characteristics of OSA in schoolchildren with obesity, contribute to the theory of dysregulation states in adolescence, and provide theoretical support for the development of diagnostic algorithms and differentiated programs for the prevention and treatment of early cognitive decline in young individuals.
This work was performed with the use of the equipment of “Center for the Development of Progressive Personalized Technologies for Health” SC FHHRP, Irkutsk.
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© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to EDP Sciences, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2026
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
