Sex differences in sleep apnea and Alzheimer’s Disease: role of cerebrovascular dysfunction

Abstract Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) significantly impacts cardiovascular health in post-menopausal females. Given that cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are tightly linked, OSA-mediated impacts on cerebrovascular function and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) risk are also likely more manifest i...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ian M. Greenlund, Jill N. Barnes, Sarah E. Baker, Virend K. Somers, Joshua M. Bock
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:npj Women's Health
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s44294-025-00076-w
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849729032398045184
author Ian M. Greenlund
Jill N. Barnes
Sarah E. Baker
Virend K. Somers
Joshua M. Bock
author_facet Ian M. Greenlund
Jill N. Barnes
Sarah E. Baker
Virend K. Somers
Joshua M. Bock
author_sort Ian M. Greenlund
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) significantly impacts cardiovascular health in post-menopausal females. Given that cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are tightly linked, OSA-mediated impacts on cerebrovascular function and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) risk are also likely more manifest in females. This review will: summarize sex differences in cerebrovascular function, review the vascular hypothesis of AD, characterize sex differences in the OSA phenotype and implications for cerebrovascular control, and highlight OSA-mediated AD risk.
format Article
id doaj-art-19f7ada34f8d477a90a5cffaffe353f1
institution DOAJ
issn 2948-1716
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series npj Women's Health
spelling doaj-art-19f7ada34f8d477a90a5cffaffe353f12025-08-20T03:09:20ZengNature Portfolionpj Women's Health2948-17162025-05-01311710.1038/s44294-025-00076-wSex differences in sleep apnea and Alzheimer’s Disease: role of cerebrovascular dysfunctionIan M. Greenlund0Jill N. Barnes1Sarah E. Baker2Virend K. Somers3Joshua M. Bock4Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo ClinicBruno Balke Biodynamics Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-MadisonDepartment of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, Mayo ClinicDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo ClinicDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo ClinicAbstract Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) significantly impacts cardiovascular health in post-menopausal females. Given that cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are tightly linked, OSA-mediated impacts on cerebrovascular function and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) risk are also likely more manifest in females. This review will: summarize sex differences in cerebrovascular function, review the vascular hypothesis of AD, characterize sex differences in the OSA phenotype and implications for cerebrovascular control, and highlight OSA-mediated AD risk.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44294-025-00076-w
spellingShingle Ian M. Greenlund
Jill N. Barnes
Sarah E. Baker
Virend K. Somers
Joshua M. Bock
Sex differences in sleep apnea and Alzheimer’s Disease: role of cerebrovascular dysfunction
npj Women's Health
title Sex differences in sleep apnea and Alzheimer’s Disease: role of cerebrovascular dysfunction
title_full Sex differences in sleep apnea and Alzheimer’s Disease: role of cerebrovascular dysfunction
title_fullStr Sex differences in sleep apnea and Alzheimer’s Disease: role of cerebrovascular dysfunction
title_full_unstemmed Sex differences in sleep apnea and Alzheimer’s Disease: role of cerebrovascular dysfunction
title_short Sex differences in sleep apnea and Alzheimer’s Disease: role of cerebrovascular dysfunction
title_sort sex differences in sleep apnea and alzheimer s disease role of cerebrovascular dysfunction
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s44294-025-00076-w
work_keys_str_mv AT ianmgreenlund sexdifferencesinsleepapneaandalzheimersdiseaseroleofcerebrovasculardysfunction
AT jillnbarnes sexdifferencesinsleepapneaandalzheimersdiseaseroleofcerebrovasculardysfunction
AT sarahebaker sexdifferencesinsleepapneaandalzheimersdiseaseroleofcerebrovasculardysfunction
AT virendksomers sexdifferencesinsleepapneaandalzheimersdiseaseroleofcerebrovasculardysfunction
AT joshuambock sexdifferencesinsleepapneaandalzheimersdiseaseroleofcerebrovasculardysfunction