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Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Hallmarks of Aging
Laetitia S Gaspar1, Ana Rita Álvaro1, Joaquim Moita2
1CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
Trends in Molecular Medicine
|July 26, 2017
Summary
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may accelerate aging by causing cellular damage. Understanding this link could help prevent age-related diseases associated with OSA.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Sleep Medicine
- Cellular Biology
Background:
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent sleep disorder.
- Aging is a known risk factor for OSA, and its prevalence is rising with increased lifespan.
- Emerging evidence suggests OSA contributes to functional decline via chronic intermittent hypoxia and sleep fragmentation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose that OSA may anticipate or aggravate the aging process.
- To investigate the potential cellular and molecular mechanisms linking OSA to aging.
- To explore how OSA might accelerate aging and related diseases.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on OSA, aging mechanisms, and cellular/molecular impairments.
- Hypothesizing the role of OSA in inducing aging hallmarks.
- Suggesting areas for future research.
Main Results:
- OSA may induce cellular and molecular impairments characteristic of aging.
- These impairments include stem cell exhaustion, telomere attrition, and epigenetic alterations.
- These changes suggest a potential mechanism by which OSA accelerates aging.
Conclusions:
- OSA might accelerate the aging process by inducing key aging hallmarks.
- Further research into OSA's impact on aging mechanisms is warranted.
- Understanding this connection may improve the management of aging-related diseases in OSA patients.
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