Unexpected cause of premature heart aging revealed

Sleep Apnea Accelerates Heart Aging and Shortens Life - Shocking Discovery by Scientists

Scientists from the University of Missouri School of Medicine and Marshall University's Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine have made a disturbing discovery: untreated obstructive sleep apnea significantly accelerates aging of the cardiovascular system and increases the risk of premature death. The study results were published in the prestigious journal npj Aging.

Researchers developed a long-term experimental mouse model that simulates episodes of oxygen deprivation during sleep characteristic of sleep apnea. This regimen accurately reproduced the condition of a person whose breathing is regularly interrupted during sleep, causing brief hypoxia.

The observation results were extremely alarming: animals exposed to prolonged intermittent hypoxia showed significantly higher mortality compared to the control group. They developed clear signs of accelerated cardiovascular aging: increased blood pressure, deteriorating heart function, reduced vascular elasticity, coronary blood flow disorders, and changes in myocardial electrical activity.

University of Missouri Professor Mohammad Badran, one of the study authors, warns: the consequences of sleep apnea are much more serious than just poor sleep. The chronic physiological stress from recurring oxygen deficiency accumulates and fundamentally changes the structure and function of the cardiovascular system over time, accelerating biological aging and increasing the risk of death.

Research leader David Gozal emphasizes that their experimental model allowed them to track these effects throughout the lifespan without the influence of confounding factors. The conclusion is unambiguous and alarming: untreated sleep apnea is not a harmless condition, but a progressive disease with potentially fatal consequences.

The scientists particularly note that the results are critically important for regions with high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and undiagnosed sleep apnea. Early diagnosis and timely treatment can play a key role in reducing long-term risks to the heart and increasing life expectancy.