Intermittent hypoxia and sleep disruption in obstructive sleep apnea increase serum tau and amyloid‐beta levels

Summary Obstructive sleep apnea is characterized by intermittent hypoxia and sleep disruption, leading to accelerated neurodegenerative changes and cognitive decline. Serum amyloid‐beta and tau proteins, which are markers for Alzheimer's disease, have been reported to increase in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. This study compared the serum levels of amyloid‐beta proteins and tau proteins in 46 cognitively normal obstructive sleep apnea patients and 30 healthy controls. Sleep parameters and severity of obstructive sleep apnea were determined using overnight polysomnography. Serum levels of Aβ40, Aβ42, total tau and phosphorylated‐tau were determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea had significantly higher median serum levels of Aβ40 (121.0 versus 78.3 pg ml –1 ), Aβ42 (105.6 versus 18.6 pg ml –1 ) and total tau (168.5 versus 10.9 pg ml –1 ) than controls. Serum levels of phosphorylated‐tau did not differ significantly between the two groups. Serum levels of amyloid and tau proteins correlated with parameters of nocturnal oxygen saturation. Rapid eye movement sleep was negatively correlated with total amyloid‐beta proteins. We conclude that serum levels of amyloid‐beta and total tau are higher in patients with obstructive sleep apnea and hypoxia as well as changes in sleep architecture associated with their increased levels. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea should be closely monitored for the signs of cognitive impairment. Obstructive sleep apnea is a modifiable risk factor, and its treatment may reverse neurodegenerative changes and prevent cognitive impairment.