Latest in Sleep Medicine News

Poor sleep is a symptom and candidate risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). We investigated whether objective and subjective longitudinal sleep measures correlated with AD pathology at brain autopsy.

Obstructive sleep apnea contributes to cardiovascular morbidity, and its treatment may mitigate this risk. Continuous positive airway pressure and mandibular advancement devices are established therapies, but their comparative cardiometabolic effects remain uncertain. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials from multiple major databases through May 2024, pooling dichotomous outcomes as risk ratios and continuous outcomes as mean differences with 95% confidence intervals using StataMP version 17. Across 14 randomised trials including 1241 patients, CPAP showed clear advantages over MAD. CPAP significantly reduced low-density lipoprotein (MD -15.20 mg/dL; 95% CI -28.86 to -1.53), total cholesterol (MD -17.10 mg/dL; 95% CI -30.15 to -4.05) and dipping diastolic blood pressure (MD -3.12 mmHg; 95% CI -5.62 to -0.62). No meaningful differences emerged between the two therapies for serum glucose, HDL, triglycerides, 24-h mean blood pressure, systolic or diastolic pressures during sleep or wakefulness, or heart rate metrics. Overall, CPAP demonstrated superior lipid and diastolic blood pressure improvement compared with MAD, pointing towards a more favourable cardiometabolic profile. Both interventions remain effective treatments for OSA, yet CPAP may provide added benefit in reducing cardiovascular risk factors and appears to be the preferred modality in patients with elevated cardiometabolic risk.

ObjectiveTo evaluate 3-dimensional pharyngeal airway changes following 2-jaw orthognathic surgery in skeletal Class III patients and to assess their association with surgical movements.DesignRetrospective observational study.SettingSingle tertiary care center.PatientsTwenty-seven adult patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion who underwent Le Fort I maxillary advancement combined with bilateral sagittal split osteotomy mandibular setback.InterventionsAll patients received 2-jaw orthognathic surgery with preoperative (T0) and postoperative (T1, 6 months) computed tomography imaging.Main Outcome MeasuresThree-dimensional airway volumes of the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and hypopharynx were measured. Correlations between airway volume changes and skeletal movements were analyzed.ResultsSignificant regional differences in airway changes were observed. The nasopharyngeal airway volume increased (+1979.1 mm), while the oropharyngeal airway showed minimal change (+336.4 mm). In contrast, the hypopharyngeal airway demonstrated a significant reduction (-1087.5 mm). A strong correlation was found between mandibular setback and hypopharyngeal airway reduction at Point B (r = 0.73,  = .023).ConclusionsTwo-jaw orthognathic surgery results in region-specific airway changes. Hypopharyngeal airway reduction is associated with mandibular setback, while maxillary advancement contributes to upper airway enlargement. These findings reflect morphological rather than functional changes, and further studies incorporating functional assessments are required to determine their clinical significance.

Poor sleep quality is common in adults with chronic diseases and may contribute to impaired oral health and reduced oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). The present study aimed to assess the association between sleep quality and OHRQoL in a large cohort of patients with chronic diseases.

Sleep disturbances are common in older adults and may be associated with frailty, malnutrition, sarcopenia, and adverse outcomes.

Hippocampal theta oscillations coordinate computations underlying learning and memory. The frequency of theta varies with factors such as locomotion and anxiety, but the effect of an animal's sleep history on theta frequency remains unknown. Using long-duration CA1 recordings in rats, we found that awake theta frequency progressively decreases following sleep but remains elevated during sleep deprivation. These changes were not accounted for by movement but were predicted by the proportion of sleep in the preceding 30 min. In contrast, theta frequency remained relatively stable during rapid eye movement sleep. In aged rats, sleep-dependent frequency changes were less pronounced, likely due to sleep fragmentation. Systemic administration of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor rolipram during sleep deprivation reduced theta frequency, mimicking natural sleep. Collectively, these findings reveal a robust influence of sleep history on hippocampal theta frequency, with potential implications for understanding memory function, age-related sleep disruptions, and the potential for pharmacological interventions.

In recent years, the prevalence of electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) use has continued to rise, particularly among youth populations. However, the long-term effects of e-cigs use on brain functional activity remain unclear.

A rare congenital nasopharyngeal hairy polyp was incidentally identified during an attempted adenoidectomy in a 15-month-old female. The patient presented with snoring and intermittent apnea concerning for upper airway obstruction. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a 2.5-cm partially enhancing nasopharyngeal mass along the soft palate, likely originating near the left nasopharyngeal wall or Eustachian tube orifice. The lesion was excised transorally without complications. Histopathological analysis confirmed a benign hairy polyp composed of mature adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, and cartilage, lined by keratinized squamous epithelium with underlying adnexa including pilosebaceous units. Postoperatively, the patient's symptoms resolved. Interval postoperative MRI surveillance is planned for 6 months. This case highlights the importance of considering rare congenital lesions within the differential diagnosis of pediatric obstructive sleep symptoms. Early recognition and diagnosis can lead to appropriate surgical planning and better outcomes for these patients.