The effect of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in mature adults and  the future studies of Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injuries (HIBI)

Grade:

10

Teacher:

Elyse Wexler

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injuries (HIBI) are two conditions that are correlated with lack of oxygen to the brain and the distress they cause. However, it’s debated whether the two conditions are linked or a coincidence caused by the lack of oxygen. This invites the investigation, how does OSA intensity in mature adults affect the likelihood of developing HIBI? Past studies have focused on treatments and symptoms to make diagnosing easier, yet there hasn’t been much research about if the two are potentially related. The investigation revealed that the severity of OSA heavily impacts the likelihood of developing HIBI because of the increase in harmful mutilation to the brain by a 1.19-to-1.7-fold increase, causing cognitive function declines by 50% and injuries, like strokes, increase by 91%. The research was collected through several other academic studies curated for the specific lens and research question in mind, then the necessary data was collected and separated into graphs for easy organization, thus leading to the final result and end to the project. OSA, affecting one billion people around the world, and HIBI, that can happen to anyone at any age, are extremely common, if more research is conducted about these conditions or similarities then it increases the chances of making many people’s lives manageable, bearable, and free of fear in this regard.

Project presentation

Lab journal excerpts

Research paper