Getting older is inevitable, but that doesn’t mean we have to look and feel that way. In fact, slowing the signs of aging is such a big goal the global antiaging market reached a staggering $75.7 billion worldwide in 2024 alone! But what if your sleep (or lack thereof) was causing you to age faster than any lotion or potion could stop it? That’s exactly what a recent sleep apnea study discovered: that sleep disordered breathing and sleep disruption cause an acceleration in epigenetic aging. Here’s what the study means, and how treating your sleep apnea can help slow the hands of time!
OSA and Age Acceleration
In addition to raising your risk of life-threatening conditions like hypertension, stroke, heart attack, and diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was recently linked to accelerated aging. In a study conducted by the University of Missouri School of Medicine, researchers found that patients with untreated OSA had accelerated epigenetic aging and lower oxygen levels than the control group.
Interestingly, however, when some of the OSA patients were given OSA treatment via CPAP, they exhibited a deceleration of their epigenetic age!
Reversing Aging through OSA Treatment
The great news is that with proper OSA treatment, it is possible to reverse accelerated epigenetic aging, but this can only work if the patient adheres to treatment. For the participants in the study, this meant using a CPAP machine for at least four hours each night. Unfortunately, because many patients find solutions like CPAP to be very uncomfortable, they struggle to use it as prescribed, rendering it ineffective. That’s where oral appliance therapy can help.
Oral appliance therapy uses discreet orthotic devices to help position the jaw to allow proper breathing during sleep. These tiny mouthguards are easier to use and maintain, more convenient, and much less awkward and uncomfortable than CPAP. Because of their many benefits, they’re also likelier to be worn regularly, thereby making them more effective than CPAP.
Remember, if you suffer from sleep apnea or suspect that you might and are concerned about how this condition could be affecting your epigenetic age, please reach out to your sleep dentist for help and start reversing the hands of time!
About Our Practice
At Healthy Sleep Tulsa, our team of skilled and caring sleep dentists wants to help you get the rest you deserve. Don’t let untreated sleep apnea wreak havoc on your life, increasing your risk of serious illness and accelerated aging. To learn more about your options for OSA treatment, please visit our website or call us today at 918-300-4325 for an appointment.