Sleep Parameters of Breathing and Cognitive Function in a Diverse Hispanic/Latino Cohort

Background

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is common and associated with worse cardiovascular and brain health. Hispanic/Latino individuals are at increased risk for SDB. OSA is the most studied SDB; it is characterized by apnea-hypopnea events and has been linked to adverse vascular health and cognitive sequelae. Less is known about upstream factors such as parameters of breathing. Breathing dynamics such as breathing rate and breathing rate variability have been linked to changes in mood and oscillatory brain activity. Their relationships with cognitive performance, particularly in diverse and understudied Hispanic/Latino communities, are unknown.

Research Question

What is the association between parameters of breathing and cognitive outcomes?

Study Design and Methods

The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) is a prospective study of diverse Hispanic/Latino participants. Individuals were given a home sleep apnea device for in-home sleep testing. Breathing information was extracted from the cannula channel, and parameters of breathing were calculated by using bycycle, a novel tool for time series analysis. A total of 6,737 individuals were included in the study.

Results

Faster breathing rate was linked with worse domain-specific and global cognitive performance (b_global = –0.011; P < .01), and breathing rate variability was associated with worse global cognitive performance (β_global = –0.022; P < .05). In interaction models, breathing rate variability was found to be significantly associated with worse verbal fluency and global cognitive performance in women but not in men.

Interpretation

Parameters of breathing are novel methods for understanding SDB and cognitive function. These results also suggest that faster breathing rate variability in women, but not in men, is related to worse cognitive function.