ABSTRACT

Sleep disorders are generally associated with increased tiredness and sleepiness during the daytime.1 In recent years, research efforts have been aimed at elucidating potential cognitive changes accompanying various sleep disorders. One major issue of interest relates to the question of whether cognitive dysfunction is simply caused by increased sleepiness or whether there are other underlying determinants linked to the sleep disorder. The aim of this chapter is to provide an overview on the available evidence for cognitive dysfunction in three different sleep disorders, which have been most comprehensively studied in recent years: narcolepsy, insomnia, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The literature on cognitive deficits associated with each disorder will be summarized and discussed, followed by a comparison of the neuropsychological profiles of the three disorders, with special emphasis on the potential underlying neurobiological and psychological mechanisms.