Large studies with millions of patients give us power to spot patterns that smaller trials miss. When researchers look across health records, findings that link untreated sleep disorders with higher rates of neurodegenerative conditions deserve attention because they point to modifiable risks. Treating sleep apnea with available therapies alters the night-time biology that may influence how vulnerable neurons respond to injury or stress.
If sleep quality can shift the odds for diseases that affect mobility, thinking about sleep becomes part of preserving independence and potential across a lifetime. The study raises practical questions: who should be screened, how early treatment might change outcomes, and which biological pathways connect interrupted breathing to Parkinson’s. Follow the full report to see the evidence and consider how sleep care fits into strategies for healthy aging and inclusion of people at higher risk.
Add one more malady to the potential risks from untreated sleep apnea: Parkinson’s disease. A new study involving 11 million U.S. veterans finds that a person’s odds of developing Parkinson’s nearly doubled if they were diagnosed with sleep apnea but hadn’t used a continuous…
