Altered Cerebellar Spontaneous Activity and Its Association with Arousal Index in Comorbid Insomnia and Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Resting-State fMRI Study.

Background

Frequent nocturnal arousals are a core feature of comorbid insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea (COMISA), yet the underlying central mechanisms remain unclear. Identifying brain functional correlates of nocturnal awakenings may help clarify arousal-related mechanisms and inform potential interventional targets.

Methods

A total of 99 participants (COMISA, insomnia alone, OSA alone, and healthy controls) underwent clinical assessments, polysomnography, and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI metrics were compared across groups, followed by correlation and regression analyses with the arousal index, adjusting for respiratory events and insomnia-related factors.

Results

Patients with COMISA exhibited more severe insomnia symptoms, greater daytime dysfunction, and more frequent nocturnal awakenings than those with insomnia alone, although their arousal index did not differ from that of the OSA group. Patients with COMISA exhibited altered activity in the right cerebellar lobule VIII (Cerebelum_8_R), left middle temporal gyrus, and right inferior frontal gyrus, opercular part. Lower fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) in the Cerebelum_8_R was associated with a higher arousal index. This association remained significant after controlling for insomnia severity and sleep efficiency but was attenuated after adjustment for AHI.

Conclusions

Reduced functional activity in the Cerebelum_8_R was independently associated with sleep fragmentation in COMISA, independent of insomnia severity but potentially mediated by respiratory events. These findings suggest this region may be involved in arousal-related neural regulation and could represent a therapeutic target for the complex symptoms of COMISA. Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2500095809.