Untreated Sleep Apnea Nearly Doubles Risk of Parkinson’s — But Early CPAP Treatment Offers Hope
A sweeping new study links untreated obstructive sleep apnea to a significantly higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, while early use of CPAP therapy substantially reduces that risk. Experts say sleep disorders may be a modifiable midlife factor for neurodegeneration.
Large study of 11 million veterans reveals untreated obstructive sleep apnea nearly doubles Parkinson’s risk. Early CPAP therapy lowers the danger underscoring how improving sleep may protect brain health.
Untreated Sleep Apnea and Parkinson’s: A Wake-up Call
A large new study shows that people with untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) have nearly double the risk of being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) compared with those without OSA and that early treatment with Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) appears to significantly mitigate that risk.
The study followed over 11.3 million U.S. veterans of whom about 1.55 million had OSA over an average of nearly 5 years (4.9 years).
After adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, comorbidities and other health-related factors, veterans with OSA had about 1.6 extra cases of Parkinson’s per 1,000 people over six years relative to veterans without OSA.
CPAP: Potentially Protective If Used Early
Equally striking: for those who started CPAP therapy soon after their OSA diagnosis (within two years), the elevated Parkinson’s risk was substantially lower than those who delayed or never used CPAP.
In numeric terms, early CPAP users had approximately 2.3 fewer PD cases per 1,000 individuals compared to untreated OSA patients roughly translating to one prevented Parkinson’s case per 439 people treated over five years.
Authors of the study describe OSA as a modifiable mid-life risk factor for PD, underscoring the importance of timely diagnosis and treatment.
Why Might Sleep Apnea Accelerate Neurodegeneration?
Sleep apnea causes repeated nighttime interruptions in breathing, leading to episodes of low oxygen (hypoxia) and disrupted sleep architecture.
Emerging research indicates sleep especially deep sleep plays a critical role in the brain’s waste-removal system, often referred to as the glymphatic system. During healthy sleep, this system helps clear out neurotoxic proteins such as amyloid-β, tau, and α-synuclein which are implicated in neurodegenerative diseases including PD.
Chronic oxygen deprivation and disrupted sleep due to untreated OSA may impair this clearing process, increasing the chance of toxic protein build-up, inflammation and neuronal damage potentially setting the stage for Parkinson’s or other neurodegenerative conditions over time.
What This Means for Patients and Health Professionals
- OSA shouldn’t be dismissed as “just snoring.” This study adds to a growing body of evidence that untreated sleep apnea may contribute to long-term brain health risks, including Parkinson’s.
- Early detection and treatment are key. Starting CPAP soon after OSA diagnosis seems especially beneficial; delaying treatment may miss the window of potential protection.
- Sleep quality is brain care. Beyond cardiovascular risks and daytime fatigue, sleep disorders may actively accelerate neurodegeneration, highlighting sleep health as a modifiable factor with serious long-term consequences.
- Screening and follow-up matter. Sleep medicine and neurology practitioners may consider more proactive OSA screening for patients especially those middle-aged or older as part of a comprehensive approach to neurodegenerative disease prevention.
Conclusion: A Strong Case for Taking Sleep Apnea Seriously
The new large-scale veteran-based study offers compelling evidence: untreated obstructive sleep apnea is linked with a significantly higher risk of developing Parkinson’s, but early treatment with CPAP may cut that risk drastically.
Given how common OSA is globally and how underdiagnosed it remains these findings suggest that improving sleep hygiene and access to sleep-disordered breathing treatment could be a simple, actionable way to protect long-term brain health.
For individuals and health care providers alike, sleep may not just be rest it may be prevention.
Reference
- Common sleep problem tied to serious neurological disorder in major new study – Fox News – (Accessed on Nov 28, 2025)
- New study links untreated sleep apnea to higher Parkinson’s disease risk – News Medical– (Accessed on Nov 28, 2025)
- Sleep Deprivation and Neurological Disorders – PMC– (Accessed on Nov 28, 2025)
- Sleep Disorders and Neurological Conditions: Why Good Sleep Matters for Brain Health – Melbourne Neuro Care – (Accessed on Nov 28, 2025)
