All are potential causes of central sleep apnea except which one?

Central sleep apnea is characterized by a failure of the brain to send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing, which can occur due to various medical conditions. The primary causes of central sleep apnea include neurological issues related to the brain and its function, as well as other systemic factors that affect respiratory control.

Heart disease often plays a role in central sleep apnea, as conditions such as heart failure can influence breathing regulation during sleep. Brainstem injury is a direct cause of central sleep apnea since the brainstem is responsible for basic life functions, including the control of breathing. Similarly, respiratory infections can cause transient central sleep apnea by affecting the brain’s respiratory centers and reducing respiratory drive.

Obesity, while it can lead to obstructive sleep apnea due to increased pressure on the airways, is less commonly associated with central sleep apnea. In central sleep apnea, it is not the excess weight that contributes directly to the failure of respiratory control — rather, it is the brain's signaling that is disrupted. Therefore, obesity does not directly cause central sleep apnea, making it the answer that differs from the others regarding direct causation.