Sleep Apnoea Linked to Higher Parkinson’s Risk: Study
New Delhi: A new study suggests that people with obstructive sleep apnoea have an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease, but early intervention with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy may help reduce that risk.
The preliminary study, released on March 2, 2025, will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 77th Annual Meeting in San Diego and online from April 5–9, 2025.
Obstructive sleep apnoea occurs when throat muscles relax during sleep, blocking the airway and causing repeated awakenings to breathe. This disruption lowers oxygen levels, potentially impacting brain health. CPAP therapy delivers pressurized air through a mask, keeping the airway open during sleep.
"Obstructive sleep apnoea is common, and previous research has linked untreated cases to a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. While our study found an association with an increased risk of Parkinson's disease, the good news is that people can take preventive action by using CPAP as soon as they are diagnosed," said study author Gregory D. Scott, MD, PhD, of the VA Portland Health Care System, Oregon.
Researchers analysed over 20 years of medical records from nearly 1.6 million veterans with obstructive sleep apnoea and nearly 10 million without the condition.
They identified cases of Parkinson's disease among participants, revealing that 5,284 people, or 3.4%, with sleep apnoea developed Parkinson's within five years, compared to 37,873 people, or 3.8%, of those without sleep apnoea. However, Scott noted that differences in age, smoking habits, and overall survival between the two groups may have influenced these initial numbers.
After adjusting for factors such as age, sex, and smoking, researchers found that among people with sleep apnoea, there were 1.8 more cases of Parkinson’s disease per 1,000 people compared to those without sleep apnoea.
Among study participants with sleep apnoea, 10% had documented CPAP use. They were categorized into two groups—those who started CPAP therapy within two years of diagnosis and those who began treatment after two years.
The study found that participants who started CPAP therapy early had a lower incidence of Parkinson’s, with 2.3 fewer cases per 1,000 people compared to those who did not use CPAP. Those who started CPAP after two years showed similar Parkinson’s rates to those who did not use CPAP, with 9.5 and 9.0 cases per 1,000 people, respectively.
"It is encouraging to know that while obstructive sleep apnoea may increase the risk of Parkinson's disease, treating it right away with CPAP may reduce that risk," Scott stated. "Future studies are needed to follow people more closely after receiving a sleep apnoea diagnosis and over longer periods of time."
A limitation of the study was that while researchers could determine which participants had CPAP devices, they could not track daily adherence to therapy. The study was supported by the U.S. Veterans Administration and the U.S. Department of Defence.
Rishika Verma is a graduate from Delhi University. She joined Medical Dialogues in 2023. Her interest lies in reporting health news, hospital updates, health updates, medical case studies, and advancements in healthcare, etc.