Research involving nearly 12,000 children aged 9 to 10 revealed a significant correlation between upper airway volume measured by MRI and cognitive performance. Larger airway volumes predicted higher cognitive scores, where each 2.7-fold increase was linked to a 3.68-point rise in the NIH Toolbox Total Cognition Composite score. Airway volume increase also related to specific brain regions involved in social cognition and memory. The study highlights airway volume as a potential biomarker for cognitive outcomes in pediatric sleep-disordered breathing, suggesting avenues for future research utilizing accessible imaging techniques.

Source: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine