Abstract: Chronic and repetitive intermittent hypoxia and dysfunction of sleep architecture mainly contribute to obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). More and more evidences demonstrate it is a systemic disease, which is common encountered in clinic and strongly related to the systemic lesion of central nervous system. The central nervous system complications comprise cognitive impairment, brain atrophy and the growing risk of stroke and so on. Early treatment for OSAS has a positive significance on complications of central nervous system, and even the damage can be completely reversed.

Key words: Sleep apnea, obstructive, Cognition disorders, Stroke, Review

摘要： 阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征主要源于反复慢性间歇性低氧和睡眠结构紊乱。越来越多的证据表明其为一种全身性疾病，尤其与中枢神经系统损害密切相关。最常见的中枢神经系统并发症包括认知功能障碍、脑实质萎缩和脑卒中风险增加等。对阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征及其中枢神经系统并发症进行早期治疗具有积极意义，甚至可以完全逆转病损。

关键词: 睡眠呼吸暂停, 阻塞性, 认知障碍, 卒中, 综述