Abstract Details

Both normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) and sleep apnea (SA) are associated with cognitive deficits.The former specifically in executive function, memory and attention domains. We wanted to explore the specific cognitive domains affected in NPH patients with and without SA.

Patients with both NPH and SA have lower scores in attention, memory and recall domains of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test.

A retrospective chart review of patients with presumed NPH who were admitted to The Johns Hopkins Hospital between the years 2016 and 2018 for extended lumbar drainage (ELD). All patients were administered the MoCA and 33 obtained polysomnograms.

Analysis was performed using STATA 15.1.  Independent variable was SA and dependent variable was individual MoCA domain scores. Covariates include demographic and anthropometric measurements. In our sample 52.7 % were male, 83.3% white. 26 (73.3 %) had polysomnograms. 69.2 % had SA (apnea hypopnea index of more than 5 per hour). We used unpaired t-tests to analyze differences in MoCA scores in patients with and without SA. Visual spatial p=0.22, Naming p=0.35, Attention p=0.41, Language p=0.49, Abstraction p=0.28, Recall p=0.88, Orientation p=0.79.

In patients with NPH, there was no statistically significant difference in MoCA scores in those with sleep apnea. Our results suggest that sleep apnea does not affect cognition in patients with NPH.