Brain Asymmetry associated with Genetics

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common chronic disorder associated with cardiovascular diseases and mortality. The genetic background of OSA is supported by family and genetic studies of its key features (apnea and hypopnea event frequencies and characteristics, and sleep-related oxygen saturation profiles). Genetic analyses of its major symptoms (snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness) and intermediate phenotypes (obesity, craniofacial structure, ventilatory control, and sleep-wake control) have also provided clues to improve understanding of its multifactorial etiology. This article reviews the current state of knowledge of genetics of OSA, with a focus on genomics approaches.