A new study published in JAMA Neurology has found that people with untreated obstructive sleep apnea may have a higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. Researchers analyzed medical records from more than 11 million US military veterans between 1999 and 2022, and reported that participants with untreated sleep apnea were nearly twice as likely to develop Parkinson’s later in life compared with those without the disorder.
Obstructive sleep apnea affects millions and can repeatedly block a person’s airway during sleep, causing gasping, fragmented rest, and long-term complications if left untreated. The study also noted that veterans who used a CPAP machine had a reduced risk of developing Parkinson’s, while researchers stressed that the findings indicate an increased likelihood of Parkinson’s—not a certainty.
As concern grows over the hidden dangers of untreated sleep apnea, click through the following gallery to learn more about this potentially fatal sleep disorder.