Central sleep apnea is another type of sleep apnea, and it's so rare that it's not something you'll see all that often. Central sleep apnea is when there's no problem with the upper airway, but there's an abnormality in the brainstem that causes no effort to breathe, resulting in shallow, slow breathing.
The human brain is a very complex structure. The lowest part of the brain, called the brain stem, is responsible for regulating breathing based on the level of carbon dioxide in the blood. In people with central sleep apnea, the brain stem becomes insensitive to carbon dioxide levels and is unable to regulate breathing properly. In other words, the screws that control breathing are broken.
Treatment for central apnea may include addressing underlying medical conditions or medication use and using positive airway pressure therapy or supplemental oxygen to help you breathe during sleep. In some cases, medications may also be used to help stimulate breathing during sleep.