Overview
- The JAMA Neurology analysis reviewed records of 11.31 million U.S. veterans from 1999–2022, with 13.7% diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea.
- Compared with no sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea was associated with an estimated 10–15% higher relative risk of Parkinson’s and about 1.61 additional cases per 1,000 people at six years.
- Starting CPAP within two years of diagnosis correlated with roughly a 30% lower incidence of Parkinson’s, or about 2.3 fewer cases per 1,000 people over five years (number needed to treat ≈ 439).
- Subgroup analyses indicated a larger relative risk signal among female veterans with untreated sleep apnea compared with male veterans.
- Authors and outside experts emphasized the observational design, limited CPAP adherence data, and predominantly older male cohort, noting that the findings show association rather than causation.