A new study has found that people who don’t treat their sleep apnea have a higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
The good news is that using a machine called CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) to improve sleep quality may help reduce this risk.
The research looked at medical records from over 11 million U.S. military veterans who received care through the Department of Veterans Affairs between 1999 and 2022. It was led by scientists from Oregon Health & Science University and the Portland VA Health Care System. Their findings were published in the journal JAMA Neurology.
Parkinson’s disease is a serious condition that affects the brain and causes movement problems. It affects about 1 million people in the U.S., and the risk of getting it increases as people get older, especially after age 60.
The researchers discovered that people with untreated obstructive sleep apnea were more likely to get Parkinson’s disease later in life. Sleep apnea is a common disorder where a person stops breathing multiple times during sleep. This can lower the oxygen level in the body and affect how well the brain works over time.
Even after the scientists adjusted for other factors like age, weight, and high blood pressure, they still found a strong link between untreated sleep apnea and a higher risk of Parkinson’s. People with sleep apnea who did not use CPAP were almost twice as likely to develop Parkinson’s as those who did use it.
Dr. Gregory Scott, one of the researchers, explained that while sleep apnea does not guarantee someone will get Parkinson’s, it does raise the risk. He said that many veterans who use CPAP feel better and are less tired, and they often tell others to try it too.
Dr. Lee Neilson, another lead researcher, pointed out that when people stop breathing during sleep and don’t get enough oxygen, their brain cells may not work properly. If this happens every night for many years, it could increase the chances of brain damage that leads to Parkinson’s. Using CPAP might help protect the brain and lower this risk.
Dr. Neilson said this study will change how he talks to patients. He now plans to highlight the brain health benefits of good sleep more strongly. He believes that encouraging more people to treat their sleep apnea with CPAP could help protect them from serious brain diseases like Parkinson’s.
In conclusion, this large study offers a hopeful message: treating sleep apnea with CPAP might not only improve sleep but also protect the brain from long-term damage.
People who use CPAP often report feeling better and having more energy.
Knowing that CPAP may also reduce the risk of Parkinson’s could motivate more people with sleep apnea to give it a try.
If you care about Parkinson’s disease, please read studies that Vitamin B may slow down cognitive decline, and Mediterranean diet could help lower risk of Parkinson’s.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how wheat gluten might be influencing our brain health, and Olive oil: a daily dose for better brain health.
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