Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is known for causing breathing problems during sleep, but new research shows it may do much more.
A recent review published in Sleep Medicine Reviews suggests that OSA can speed up aging in the body and raise the risk of serious health problems.
Researchers from Marshall University found that OSA can lead to a process called cellular senescence. This means cells stop working properly and start releasing harmful substances that can damage nearby healthy cells. This process is part of what causes aging and age-related diseases.
When a person has OSA, their breathing stops and starts repeatedly during the night. This causes low oxygen levels, stress, and broken sleep. The study found that this cycle can damage cells in many ways—including by creating oxidative stress, hurting the mitochondria (the power plants of cells), and causing long-term inflammation.
These harmful effects can lead to early signs of health problems like high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and immune system issues. This helps explain why people with OSA often get these diseases earlier in life.
The review also suggests that standard OSA treatments like continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may not be enough. The researchers believe new treatments that target senescent cells—such as senolytic or senomorphic drugs—could help reduce the long-term damage caused by OSA.
More research is still needed, especially to find simple ways to detect cell aging in patients. But this study shows that OSA is more than just a breathing problem. It could be a hidden cause of many chronic diseases and early aging.
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The study is published in Sleep Medicine Reviews.
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