Despite the higher prevalence of OSA in men, there is a strong association between OSA and Alzheimer's disease, which disproportionately affects women. This study aimed to investigate the impact of chronic intermittent hypoxia, a hallmark of OSA, on cognitive function and Alzheimer's disease markers in ovariectomized, female rats. At 8 weeks of age, 16 Sprague-Dawley rats underwent ovariectomy and were exposed to CIH for 26 weeks. Cognitive function was assessed using the Morris water maze, revealing significant deficits in spatial learning and memory in CIH-exposed rats, compared to controls. Analysis of hippocampal tissue showed increased total tau protein, indicative of Alzheimer's disease pathology.
