Date of Award
2020
Degree Name
Master of Medical Science (Physician Assistant)
Department
Physician Assistant; College of Health Sciences
First Advisor
Kevin Basile, MD and PT
Abstract
This review analyzed the following question: In adults age 65 years old or older diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease (P), is nightly use of CPAP (I) more effective in reducing cognitive impairment symptoms (O) than standard pharmacotherapy options (C)? A literature search conducted through Google Scholar and PubMed granted six relevant articles that provided data for this review. No current studies compared CPAP treatment with pharmacotherapy, and each study used unique measures of cognitive function, making direct comparison of the two therapies difficult. Results demonstrated that first line pharmacotherapy can improve cognitive function, but only in limited way and only in a subgroup of patients. Based on current data, it was not possible to determine if CPAP was more effective than pharmacotherapy, but the results of several studies demonstrated that CPAP does have positive effects on cognition. Future studies should utilize the same cognitive measurements so CPAP and pharmacotherapy can be compared directly.
Recommended Citation
Moylan, Nicholas, "Efficacy of CPAP Compared to Standard Pharmacotherapy in Reducing Cognitive Impairment Symptoms in Patients with Alzheimer's disease" (2020). Capstone Showcase. 98.
https://scholarworks.arcadia.edu/showcase/2020/pa/98
Included in
Neurology Commons, Other Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Commons, Sleep Medicine Commons
Efficacy of CPAP Compared to Standard Pharmacotherapy in Reducing Cognitive Impairment Symptoms in Patients with Alzheimer's disease
This review analyzed the following question: In adults age 65 years old or older diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease (P), is nightly use of CPAP (I) more effective in reducing cognitive impairment symptoms (O) than standard pharmacotherapy options (C)? A literature search conducted through Google Scholar and PubMed granted six relevant articles that provided data for this review. No current studies compared CPAP treatment with pharmacotherapy, and each study used unique measures of cognitive function, making direct comparison of the two therapies difficult. Results demonstrated that first line pharmacotherapy can improve cognitive function, but only in limited way and only in a subgroup of patients. Based on current data, it was not possible to determine if CPAP was more effective than pharmacotherapy, but the results of several studies demonstrated that CPAP does have positive effects on cognition. Future studies should utilize the same cognitive measurements so CPAP and pharmacotherapy can be compared directly.