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Progress on diffusion magnetic resonance imaging in assessing brain cognitive functional changes in patients with obstructive sleep apnea
HUA Yu  WANG Weiwei  HAN Bingyu  LI Mengying  MIAO Yanwei 

Cite this article as: HUA Y, WANG W W, HAN B Y, et al. Progress on diffusion magnetic resonance imaging in assessing brain cognitive functional changes in patients with obstructive sleep apnea[J]. Chin J Magn Reson Imaging, 2026, 17(3): 125-130. DOI:10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2026.03.018.


[Abstract] Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a chronic disorder characterized by intermittent hypoxemia and sleep fragmentation as its core pathological features. It significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular events and metabolic syndrome, and also drives progressive degeneration of brain structure and cognitive function through oxidative stress and neurovascular unit impairment. The rapid advancement and innovation of diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) techniques have provided critical tools for exploring the mechanisms of OSA-related brain injury. Among them, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), based on diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), with its non-invasiveness, high resolution, and sensitivity to microstructural heterogeneity in white matter, has emerged as a cornerstone technology for elucidating OSA-associated neuropathology. Building on this foundation, emerging techniques such as diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI), diffusion tensor imaging along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS), and free-water diffusion tensor imaging (FW-DTI) have further expanded the scope of research. This article systematically reviews the impact of OSA on brain structure, network connectivity, glymphatic system function, and cognitive performance, with a focus on recent advancements in dMRI technologies and their clinical implications. It also points out the limitations of current studies and suggests directions for future research.
[Keywords] obstructive sleep apnea；diffusion magnetic resonance imaging；magnetic resonance imaging；brain structure；brain network；glymphatic system；cognitive function

HUA Yu   WANG Weiwei   HAN Bingyu   LI Mengying   MIAO Yanwei*  

Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116011, China

Corresponding author: MIAO Y W, E-mail: ywmiao716@163.com

Conflicts of interest   None.

Received  2025-10-22
Accepted  2025-12-30
DOI: 10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2026.03.018
Cite this article as: HUA Y, WANG W W, HAN B Y, et al. Progress on diffusion magnetic resonance imaging in assessing brain cognitive functional changes in patients with obstructive sleep apnea[J]. Chin J Magn Reson Imaging, 2026, 17(3): 125-130. DOI:10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2026.03.018.

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