If breathing stops at night, it is not without consequences: Researchers have now found that untreated sleep apnea significantly increases the risk of Parkinson’s disease. However, there is a simple way to protect yourself.
Nocturnal pauses in breathing not only disrupt sleep, but can damage the brain for years. According to a new US study published in the journal Jama Neurology, people with untreated sleep apnea are almost twice as likely to develop Parkinson’s disease. However, if you treat your sleep apnea with a so-called CPAP device – a breathing mask that continuously generates slight excess pressure while you sleep – you can significantly reduce the risk.
In obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the throat muscles relax so much during sleep that the airways briefly collapse. Those affected literally stop breathing – sometimes hundreds of times a night. The result: The blood does not receive enough oxygen, sleep is fragmented and the body is constantly under stress. “When oxygen drops, nerve cells no longer function normally,” explains study leader Lee Neilson from Oregon Health & Science University.
If this happens over many years, the researchers suspect that the brain could become more susceptible to neurodegenerative diseases. To investigate this, Neilson and his team analyzed the health data of more than 11 million veterans who received medical care between 1999 and 2022. The scientists compared the incidence of Parkinson’s disease five years after the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea between two groups: patients who left their sleep apnea untreated and those who regularly used a breathing mask.
Breathing mask therapy: uncomfortable but effective
The result: Compared to patients who used a breathing mask, untreated people with sleep apnea had almost twice the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease over the years. This was true even if typical risk factors such as age, obesity or high blood pressure were taken into account. “Of course, sleep apnea does not automatically lead to Parkinson’s,” says co-author Gregory Scott, according to the release. “But it significantly increases the likelihood.”
The CPAP machine, often also referred to as a breathing pressure device, ventilation aid or breathing mask to prevent breathing pauses, keeps the airways open using a gentle flow of air. Many people initially find the mask annoying, but the benefits usually become apparent quickly: less fatigue, more concentration and restful sleep. “Veterans who consistently use CPAP no longer want to be without it,” said Scott. If there is also a reduced risk of Parkinson’s disease, this could motivate many affected people to take the therapy more seriously.
For neurologist Neilson, this results in a clear mandate: sleep disorders should be given greater consideration in clinical practice. The study suggests that good sleep is not only important for general well-being, but can also protect the brain in the long term.
