TY - JOUR
T1 - Sex differences in sleep apnea and comorbid neurodegenerative diseases
AU - Snyder, Brina
AU - Cunningham, Rebecca L.
PY - 2018/5
Y1 - 2018/5
N2 - Sleep apnea is a disorder, which increasingly affects people worldwide. Whether the associated hypoxic events during sleep are central or obstructive in origin, the end result is excessive daytime sleepiness and an increased risk for several comorbidities, such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders. Sleep apnea is diagnosed more frequently in men than women, suggesting a role of sex hormones in the pathology of the disease. Furthermore, there are sex differences in the development and progression of comorbid diseases associated with sleep apnea. Therefore, treatment of sleep apnea may be clinically relevant for prevention of subsequent sex-specific comorbid disorders. While the impact sleep apnea has on cardiovascular events has been the subject of many research studies, the role of sleep apnea in neurodegeneration is less established. Here we review known risk factors for sleep apnea and the implications of the observed sex differences in this disease. We also summarize the evidence and mechanisms for how sleep apnea may contribute to the onset of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
AB - Sleep apnea is a disorder, which increasingly affects people worldwide. Whether the associated hypoxic events during sleep are central or obstructive in origin, the end result is excessive daytime sleepiness and an increased risk for several comorbidities, such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders. Sleep apnea is diagnosed more frequently in men than women, suggesting a role of sex hormones in the pathology of the disease. Furthermore, there are sex differences in the development and progression of comorbid diseases associated with sleep apnea. Therefore, treatment of sleep apnea may be clinically relevant for prevention of subsequent sex-specific comorbid disorders. While the impact sleep apnea has on cardiovascular events has been the subject of many research studies, the role of sleep apnea in neurodegeneration is less established. Here we review known risk factors for sleep apnea and the implications of the observed sex differences in this disease. We also summarize the evidence and mechanisms for how sleep apnea may contribute to the onset of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
KW - Androgens
KW - Chronic intermittent hypoxia
KW - Estrogens
KW - Hypertension
KW - Inflammation
KW - Oxidative stress
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85039149938&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.steroids.2017.12.006
DO - 10.1016/j.steroids.2017.12.006
M3 - Article
C2 - 29258810
AN - SCOPUS:85039149938
VL - 133
SP - 28
EP - 33
JO - Steroids
JF - Steroids
SN - 0039-128X
ER -