New study links sleep apnea to higher risk of Parkinson’s disease

Recent research shows a link between obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that causes temporary pauses in breathing during sleep, and Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that may cause tremors, stiffness, and difficulty speaking, moving, and swallowing.

Parkinson’s disease is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease in the United States, after Alzheimer’s disease, with 90,000 people diagnosed each year. There is currently no cure for Parkinson’s disease.

The lead researcher on this study says treating sleep apnea with a continuous positive airway pressure (or CPAP) machine was associated with a reduced likelihood of developing Parkinson’s. However, the study conducted was predominantly with males with an average age of 60, representing those at a higher risk for sleep apnea.

Dr. David Shprecher, Senior Movement Disorders Director at Banner Sun Health Research Institute, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss more about the recent study.