Neurological implications of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS)

Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is a pathology with frequent systemic repercussions. One of the most affected organs is the brain, as well as the central nervous system, thus becoming a cerebrovascular risk factor regardless of other factors. This syndrome may increase the frequency and severity of primary central nervous system diseases such as epilepsy and dementia syndromes. A cardinal symptom of OSAHS is headache, which has specific characteristics; in addition, different pathophysiological mechanisms involved in its development have been identified such as frequent micro-arousals from sleep, secondary daytime sleepiness, altered attention capacity, concentration, motor reaction, affection, among others. Together, these mechanisms affect other higher mental functions including judgment, reasoning or memory. Factors like hypoxemia, hypercapnia, increased heart rate and blood pressure, adrenaline secretion, noradrenaline or cortisol during sleep contribute to the endothelial alteration responsible for cerebrovascular disease.