Halbower Ann C, Mahone E Mark
Eudowood Division of Respiratory Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MA 21287, USA.
Sleep Med Rev. 2006 Apr;10(2):97-107. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2005.10.002. Epub 2006 Feb 3.
Understanding the long-term neuropsychological consequences of sleep disorders in children poses a significant challenge to researchers. Since children are in a state of rapidly changing cognition and neurobehavioral function, impacts on development may have profound consequences. Recent studies now demonstrate that mild sleep apnea and snoring, once considered within the spectrum of normal sleep patterns, are associated with deficits of neuropsychological function. Preliminary data suggest that some of these cognitive deficits may be reversible following treatment of mild sleep apnea in children; however, factors such as age at treatment, duration of sleep disordered breathing, pre-morbid intellectual level, socioeconomic status, or the effectiveness of treatment may adversely affect long-term outcome. Furthermore, it is imperative that researchers determine whether the developing brain exhibits critical periods of plasticity during which episodes of sleep-disordered breathing might cause long-term or permanent neuropsychological effects.
了解儿童睡眠障碍的长期神经心理学后果对研究人员构成了重大挑战。由于儿童正处于认知和神经行为功能快速变化的状态，对发育的影响可能会产生深远后果。最近的研究表明，轻度睡眠呼吸暂停和打鼾，曾经被认为是正常睡眠模式范围内的现象，与神经心理功能缺陷有关。初步数据表明，儿童轻度睡眠呼吸暂停治疗后，其中一些认知缺陷可能是可逆的；然而，治疗时的年龄、睡眠呼吸障碍的持续时间、病前智力水平、社会经济地位或治疗效果等因素可能会对长期结果产生不利影响。此外，研究人员必须确定发育中的大脑是否表现出可塑性的关键时期，在此期间睡眠呼吸障碍发作可能会导致长期或永久性的神经心理学影响。
