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Exploring the Link Between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Neuropsychiatric Disorders: Role of Neuroinflammatory
Mohammad Raza Mehdi1, Zahraa Munaf Shakir Al-Qassab2, Omar Sabuni3
1Emergency Medicine, Hull Royal Infirmary, Hull, GBR.
Cureus
|August 5, 2026
Summary
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is linked to brain inflammation, potentially causing cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases. Early diagnosis and treatment of OSAS may mitigate these neurological risks.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Sleep Medicine
- Immunology
Background:
- Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a common disorder causing airway obstruction during sleep.
- OSAS leads to reduced oxygen levels and disrupted sleep, impacting overall health.
- Emerging evidence suggests a link between OSAS and neuroinflammation, affecting brain function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the association between OSAS and neuroinflammation.
- To explore potential biological mechanisms linking OSAS to neurological conditions.
- To highlight the importance of early OSAS diagnosis and intervention.
Main Methods:
- Narrative review of existing literature.
- Analysis of evidence from experimental animal and human clinical studies.
- Discussion of proposed biological pathways, including oxidative stress and neuronal injury.
Main Results:
- Intermittent hypoxemia and sleep fragmentation in OSAS may promote neuroinflammation and neuronal damage.
- Neuroinflammation is implicated in the development of depression, anxiety, and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
- OSAS may impair cognitive functions such as memory and executive function.
Conclusions:
- Neuroinflammation is a potential mechanism connecting OSAS to neurological and psychiatric disorders.
- Current evidence is largely associative, necessitating further longitudinal and biomarker studies.
- Understanding these links can improve OSAS diagnosis, risk stratification, and therapeutic strategies, including CPAP therapy.
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