Untreated Sleep Apnea Doubles Parkinson’s Risk

ChicagoGranny · Post by **ChicagoGranny** » Wed Nov 26, 2025 3:36 pm

Summary: A large analysis of more than 11 million medical records found that people with untreated obstructive sleep apnea face a substantially higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease over time. Even after accounting for factors like age, obesity, and cardiovascular conditions, those who did not use CPAP were nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s as those who treated their apnea.

https://neurosciencenews.com/osa-parkin ... ogy-29977/

surf_rower · Post by **surf_rower** » Mon Mar 23, 2026 4:48 pm

Thank you for posting this study. No response or followup to this? Is anyone discussing this overlap in another thread? (Not coming up in Search.) I read something suggesting that the heightened risk goes both ways. Asking because my husband has Parkinson's 10 years in, and maybe 12 years ago was diagnosed with borderline OSA - borderline whether it needed any treatment. He didn't stay with the CPAP, though did try it for awhile. But now he nods off throughout the day. I am also consulting the Parkinson's forums, and our doctors, of course. But 2x risk seems significant enough to be here.

ChicagoGranny · Post by **ChicagoGranny** » Mon Mar 23, 2026 5:40 pm

The study was published in a peer-reviewed medical journal. What else did you want to discuss?

surf_rower · Post by **surf_rower** » Mon Mar 23, 2026 8:12 pm

I wonder if anyone here has experience with Parkinsons + OSA and whether starting CPAP improved their Parkinson's symptoms or even the other way around, whether any PD treatments were mitigating their sleep disorders. I just heard about the study today, so came here to see what people were saying about this.

ChicagoGranny · Post by **ChicagoGranny** » Tue Mar 24, 2026 8:04 am

surf_rower wrote: ↑
Mon Mar 23, 2026 8:12 pm
whether starting CPAP improved their Parkinson's symptoms

This was not part of the study. But one would think starting CPAP might slow the progress of the damage being done to the brain's neural circuits. The improvements they might experience would be the result of CPAP usage, not PD improvement.

surf_rower wrote: ↑
Mon Mar 23, 2026 8:12 pm
whether any PD treatments were mitigating their sleep disorders

They need to treat the sleep order in addition to PD. If a person has sleep apnea, it needs to be treated regardless of any other health problems.

Untreated Sleep Apnea Doubles Parkinson’s Risk

Untreated Sleep Apnea Doubles Parkinson’s Risk

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