Sleep disorders, including but not limited to Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), significantly affect cognitive function, impacting the quality of life and overall health. The interplay between sleep disturbances – such as excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and sleep fragmentation - and cognitive deficits varies widely across different conditions. While much research has focused on OSA, other disorders like insomnia, narcolepsy, restless legs syndrome (RLS), shift work disorders, and circadian disruptions can exert similarly profound cognitive effects. Emerging studies have shed light on the diverse mechanisms through which these conditions impair neurocognitive functioning, emphasizing the roles of autonomic dysfunction and sleep fragmentation. However, a comprehensive understanding of the cognitive consequences across various sleep disorders remains incomplete, underscoring the need for a more in-depth exploration of their phenomenological and pathophysiological aspects.

This Research Topic seeks to advance the understanding of cognitive impairments associated with a broad spectrum of sleep disorders, including OSA, insomnia, narcolepsy, RLS, shift work disorders, and circadian disruptions. We aim to identify shared and disorder-specific cognitive disruptions, evaluate the impact of therapeutic interventions, and promote the development of targeted cognitive assessments and biomarkers, which could help in the precise diagnosis and management of these conditions.

To gather further insights into this complex interrelation between sleep disorders and cognitive impairment, we welcome submissions across a diverse range of manuscript types supported by the journal (including Brief Research Reports, Perspectives, Protocols, Mini-Review, Original Research, etc.). The expected content includes numerous forms of sleep disorders, each presenting distinct cognitive challenges, including, but not limited to:
- Comparative analyses of cognitive impairments across sleep disorders, with particular attention to the phenotypic and/or pathophysiological traits that might allow differentiation of these patient categories.
- Interplay between excessive daytime sleepiness and neurocognitive impairment in patients with OSA or other sleep disorders, with a particular focus on sleep fragmentation and autonomic imbalance.
- Studies on the impact of sleep architecture disturbances on neurocognitive outcomes beyond OSA
- Examination of treatment modalities aimed at improving excessive daytime sleepiness and enhancing cognitive functions in obstructive sleep apnea and other sleep disorders
- Validation of novel biomarkers for distinguishing cognitive impairments among varied sleep disorders (e.g., with a different organic, psychiatric, or pharmacologic etiology)
- Investigations into the socioeconomic and healthcare implications of cognitive deficits in sleep-disordered populations

This inclusive approach aims to foster a deeper understanding of the intricate links between sleep disturbances and cognitive impairments, paving the way for improved clinical practices and therapeutic strategies.

Articles accepted after peer review will be published and appear online as soon as approved for publication.

Register now to participate in this exciting Research Topic.

The Topic Editor Ludovico Messineo is a consultant for SleepRes™, Inc., and Apnimed. Topic Editor Sebastien Baillieul was an investigator in a research study funded by Bioprojet, and he has received financial support for seminars and congress travel from Bioprojet, Jazz Pharmaceutical, ResMed, and Vitalaire. The other Topic Editors report no competing interests related to this Research Topic.

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Exploring Cognitive Deficits Across Various Sleep Disorders

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