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The effects of an exercise intervention on executive function among overweight adults with obstructive sleep apnea

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Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with poorer executive function. This study examined the effects of a comprehensive exercise intervention on executive function in overweight adults with mild and moderate-to-severe OSA. Participants aged between 30 and 65 years, with a body mass index (BMI) ranging from 27 to 42 kg/m2, participated in a 6-week exercise program. Standardized polysomnographic recording methods provided total Apnea–Hypopnea Index (AHI) and level of hypoxemia. Executive function was assessed using the NIH Toolbox Flanker Inhibitory Control Test. A submaximal treadmill exercise test evaluated cardiorespiratory fitness. Participants with baseline total AHI between 5 and 14.9 events/h were classified as mild OSA and participants with baseline total AHI 15 ≥ events/h were classified as moderate-to-severe OSA. Fifteen participants completed 18 exercise sessions. Significant differences between OSA categories at baseline were observed for sleep characteristics, but not for fitness or executive function. Wilcoxon signed rank tests showed significant increases in median values for the Flanker Test in the moderate-to-severe category only, z = 2.429, p < 0.015, η2 = 0.737. Six weeks of exercise improved executive function in overweight individuals with moderate-to-severe OSA, but not in those with mild OSA.

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Data availability

The dataset generated during and/or analysed during the current study is available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge all our student research assistants for the tireless dedication and support.

Funding

The study was sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute under grant number 1R15HL133884-01 (Dobrosielski: PI). Support for the study was also provided by the College of Health Professions, Towson University. In addition, Author CP is a recipient of the Instituto de Salud Carlos III Miguel Servet fellowship (grant CP 19/00189).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology, Towson University, 8000 York Road, Towson, MD, 21252, USA

    Karla A. Kubitz

  2. Department of Nursing, Towson University, Towson, MD, USA

    Hyunjeong Park

  3. Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Susheel P. Patil

  4. Institut d’Investigacio Sanitaria Pere Virgili (IISPV), Reus, Spain

    Christopher Papandreou

  5. Department of Kinesiology, Towson University, Towson, MD, USA

    Devon A. Dobrosielski

Authors
  1. Karla A. Kubitz
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  2. Hyunjeong Park
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  3. Susheel P. Patil
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  4. Christopher Papandreou
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  5. Devon A. Dobrosielski
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Karla A. Kubitz.

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Conflict of interest

KK declares that she has no conflict of interest. HP declares that she has no conflict of interest. SP declares that he has no conflict of interest. CP declares that he has no conflict of interest. DD declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at Towson University (Approval number: 16-A095).

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Written informed consent was obtained from all participants included in the study.

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Kubitz, K.A., Park, H., Patil, S.P. et al. The effects of an exercise intervention on executive function among overweight adults with obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep Biol. Rhythms 21, 185–191 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41105-022-00433-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41105-022-00433-1

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