A new study has revealed that people with obstructive sleep apnea have an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease. However, the researchers also found that continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may reduce that risk if started early enough.
The preliminary study was conducted by the American Academy of Neurology. The paper will also be presented at the meeting which will held from April 5–9, 2025, in San Diego and online.
According to the study, using CPAP within two years of a sleep apnea diagnosis reduced the risk of Parkinson’s. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when throat muscles relax during sleep, blocking the airway, causing a person to wake up repeatedly to breathe.
This disrupted sleep pattern can lower oxygen levels, affecting the brain. With CPAP, pressurized air is delivered through a mask to keep the airway open while a person sleeps.
“Obstructive sleep apnea is common and previous research has found that when untreated, it is associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke,” said study author Gregory D. Scott, MD, Ph.D., of the VA Portland Health Care System in Oregon.
“While our study found an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease, the good news is people can do something about it by using CPAP as soon as they are diagnosed with the sleep disorder.”
While conducting the study, the researchers reviewed more than 20 years of medical records to identify nearly 1.6 million veterans who had obstructive sleep apnea and nearly 10 million veterans who did not. The team also looked at rates of Parkinson’s disease five years after a sleep apnea diagnosis.
“It is encouraging to know that while obstructive sleep apnea may increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease, treating it right away with CPAP may reduce that risk,” said Scott as quoted by multiple media reports. “Future studies are needed to follow people more closely after receiving a sleep apnea diagnosis and over longer periods of time.”