Longevity & Aging

Treating Sleep Apnea Early May Reduce Parkinson's Disease Risk by 31%

Analyzing over 11 million US veterans, researchers found that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) independently increases Parkinson's disease (PD) risk by 92% compared to those without OSA. Veterans with OSA developed 1.61 additional PD cases per 1000 people at 6 years. Critically, veterans who started CPAP therapy within 2 years of OSA diagnosis showed a 31% reduction in PD incidence compared to untreated OSA patients. The association held after adjusting for BMI, vascular disease, psychiatric conditions, medications, and healthcare utilization. Female veterans showed a stronger OSA-to-PD risk signal. Severe OSA conferred earlier and higher PD cumulative incidence than mild OSA. These findings suggest OSA is a modifiable risk factor for PD, and prompt CPAP initiation may be neuroprotective.