The relationship between sleep apnoea and the risk of dementia: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational cohort studies
PubMed 39963034 · doi:10.5114/fn.2024.145596
What was done
Authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies from PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials evaluating the relationship between sleep apnoea and dementia risk. Pooled hazard ratios (HR) or risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using random-effects models. Heterogeneity and publication bias were also evaluated.
What was found
Fifteen studies totaling 5,207,312 participants were included. Sleep apnoea was significantly associated with an increased risk of all-cause dementia (HR 1.34, 95% CI: 1.17–1.53, p < 0.001, I² = 30%), Alzheimer's disease (HR 1.28, 95% CI: 1.16–1.41, p < 0.001, I² = 22%), and Parkinson's disease (HR 1.64, 95% CI: 1.47–1.82, p < 0.001, I² = 25%). Sleep apnoea was not significantly associated with vascular dementia (HR 1.36, 95% CI: 0.88–2.10, p = 0.16, I² = 50%). Funnel plot asymmetry was not observed.
Why it matters
This large meta-analysis demonstrates that sleep apnoea is an independent risk factor for multiple neurodegenerative disorders, reinforcing the importance of screening and intervention for sleep-disordered breathing in at-risk populations.
Limits
The underlying studies were observational, preventing causal inference. The abstract does not specify whether studies controlled for sleep apnoea treatment (such as CPAP), severity, or diagnostic definitions, and sensitivity analyses indicated residual between-study heterogeneity.
Cited by
- supports Research from the Queensland Brain Institute at the University of Queensland found that individuals with untreated sleep apnea have a 45% higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.