The contributions of resting-state functional-MRI studies to our understanding of male patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review

ObjectivesObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition marked by the recurrent partial or complete obstruction of the upper airway during sleep. This leads to intermittent pauses in breathing, fragmented sleep, and frequent awakenings throughout the night. Many of these symptoms are believed to be l...

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Main Authors: Ruoxi Yu, Yan Li, Kangqing Zhao, Fangfang Fan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Neurology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1532037/full
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author Ruoxi Yu
Yan Li
Kangqing Zhao
Fangfang Fan
author_facet Ruoxi Yu
Yan Li
Kangqing Zhao
Fangfang Fan
author_sort Ruoxi Yu
collection DOAJ
description ObjectivesObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition marked by the recurrent partial or complete obstruction of the upper airway during sleep. This leads to intermittent pauses in breathing, fragmented sleep, and frequent awakenings throughout the night. Many of these symptoms are believed to be linked to brain damage; however, the fundamental neurological processes underlying these impairments remain largely unknown. This study investigates resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) findings in male patients with OSA to better understand the specific mechanisms associated with this condition in this demographic.MethodsThe search was conducted in the PubMed and Google Scholar databases, encompassing literature from their inception to July 2024. Studies were identified based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria and were evaluated by two independent reviewers.ResultsA total of 16 eligible original rs-fMRI studies on male patients with OSA were included in this review. The findings indicate that patients with OSA exhibit alterations in resting-state brain activity. These neural changes may help explain the effects of OSA on emotion, cognition, and quality of life. Additionally, these findings could be used in the future to evaluate treatment outcomes.ConclusionThis study highlights significant changes in local brain activities, interested region related functional connectivity, and whole-brain functional connectivity networks in patients with OSA. These findings offer valuable insights into the neural alterations at the core of OSA and may serve as potential biomarkers for diagnosis and intervention.
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spelling doaj-art-439d67b2537e44a8bb3b728392c710ec2025-08-20T03:17:31ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neurology1664-22952025-04-011610.3389/fneur.2025.15320371532037The contributions of resting-state functional-MRI studies to our understanding of male patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic reviewRuoxi Yu0Yan Li1Kangqing Zhao2Fangfang Fan3National Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine Constitution and Preventive Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, ChinaHangzhou MindMatrixes Technology Co., Ltd, Hangzhou, ChinaPeking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United StatesObjectivesObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition marked by the recurrent partial or complete obstruction of the upper airway during sleep. This leads to intermittent pauses in breathing, fragmented sleep, and frequent awakenings throughout the night. Many of these symptoms are believed to be linked to brain damage; however, the fundamental neurological processes underlying these impairments remain largely unknown. This study investigates resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) findings in male patients with OSA to better understand the specific mechanisms associated with this condition in this demographic.MethodsThe search was conducted in the PubMed and Google Scholar databases, encompassing literature from their inception to July 2024. Studies were identified based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria and were evaluated by two independent reviewers.ResultsA total of 16 eligible original rs-fMRI studies on male patients with OSA were included in this review. The findings indicate that patients with OSA exhibit alterations in resting-state brain activity. These neural changes may help explain the effects of OSA on emotion, cognition, and quality of life. Additionally, these findings could be used in the future to evaluate treatment outcomes.ConclusionThis study highlights significant changes in local brain activities, interested region related functional connectivity, and whole-brain functional connectivity networks in patients with OSA. These findings offer valuable insights into the neural alterations at the core of OSA and may serve as potential biomarkers for diagnosis and intervention.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1532037/fullresting-state fMRIobstructive sleep apneafunctional connectivityfunctional segregationfunctional integration
spellingShingle Ruoxi Yu
Yan Li
Kangqing Zhao
Fangfang Fan
The contributions of resting-state functional-MRI studies to our understanding of male patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review
Frontiers in Neurology
resting-state fMRI
obstructive sleep apnea
functional connectivity
functional segregation
functional integration
title The contributions of resting-state functional-MRI studies to our understanding of male patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review
title_full The contributions of resting-state functional-MRI studies to our understanding of male patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review
title_fullStr The contributions of resting-state functional-MRI studies to our understanding of male patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review
title_full_unstemmed The contributions of resting-state functional-MRI studies to our understanding of male patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review
title_short The contributions of resting-state functional-MRI studies to our understanding of male patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review
title_sort contributions of resting state functional mri studies to our understanding of male patients with obstructive sleep apnea a systematic review
topic resting-state fMRI
obstructive sleep apnea
functional connectivity
functional segregation
functional integration
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1532037/full
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