A new study suggests that treating obstructive sleep apnea early can significantly reduce the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. The investigation, published this week in the magazine JAMA Neurologyanalyzed the clinical files of more than 11 million US veterans between 1999 and 2022.
The team of scientists from Oregon Health & Science University concluded that Veterans diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea were nearly twice as likely to receive a Parkinson’s diagnosis up to six years laterwhen compared to people without apnea.
But there is one piece of information that changed the direction of the analysis. Among patients who started using a continuous positive blood pressure (CPAP) machine within two years of diagnosis, the risk of developing Parkinson’s fell by about 30 percent.
CPAP keeps the airways open during sleep, ensuring stable oxygen levels and improving the quality of rest. Even after controlling for factors such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, depression, anxiety and head injuries, the risk associated with apnea remained.
Neurologist Lee Neilson, co-author of the study, explains that the discovery follows a logical line. “We know that people with Parkinson’s have a lot of sleep difficulties, so it made sense that these problems would appear before the disease manifests itself.”, he told ABC News.
For Neilson, the prolonged lack of oxygen at night could be one of the elements that contribute to the progression of the disease.
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that gradually destroys dopamine-producing neurons, essential for controlling movement. Data for 2021 indicates that the disease affected around 11 million people worldwide, with projections to reach 25 million by 2050.
Although the study results are promising, Neilson recognizes limitations, such as the fact that the database used includes mainly white men, which makes generalization to other groups difficult.
The study makes one point clear, however. Sleep apnea is not guaranteed to lead to illness, but ignoring it can increase the danger. And treating it at an early stage can make a substantial difference. “Effective screening measures and protocols for consistent CPAP adherence can have major impacts on brain health,” say scientists.