Loneliness and Chronic Stress Increase Risk of Sleep Apnea

What is it about?

Sleep apnea, a common sleep-related breathing disorder characterized by repeated pauses in breathing during sleep, affects an estimated 25% of adults in North America and approximately one billion people worldwide. Beyond disrupting sleep and causing daytime fatigue, sleep apnea is associated with serious health consequences, including hypertension, obesity, and an increased risk of motor vehicle accidents. Despite its high prevalence, treatment options remain limited, and the underlying causes of the disorder are not fully understood. In a new study, researchers investigated whether chronic psychosocial stress contributes to the development of sleep apnea. Building on evidence that stress-related conditions such as anxiety and depression can double the risk of sleep apnea, the team combined animal experiments with analyses of large-scale human genetic datasets. The researchers found that rats exposed to three weeks of social isolation, a model of chronic psychosocial stress, developed significantly more sleep apneas and exhibited conditions commonly associated with sleep apnea, including hypertension and obesity. These effects were particularly pronounced in males. Complementary analyses of genome-wide association data from human populations further revealed a causal link between loneliness and an increased risk of sleep apnea.

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Photo by Sander Sammy on Unsplash

Photo by Sander Sammy on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Together, these findings identify chronic psychosocial stress as a previously underrecognized contributor to sleep apnea and highlight the importance of social and psychological well-being in respiratory health.

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