Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is one of the most common sleep disorders and significantly increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Until recently, the condition was believed to stem mainly from anatomical structure and blockage of the upper airways. However, the latest research conducted by scientists at Wrocław Medical University, in collaboration with the Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy of the Polish Academy of Sciences, shows that OSA also has important neurobiological and genetic foundations. 

The results of the project, published in the prestigious journal Annals of Medicine, indicate that the disorder is closely linked to dopamine levels. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in regulating mood, motivation, the sleep-wake cycle, as well as breathing control and muscle tone. 

The study included nearly 300 subjects. Blood dopamine levels were measured in over 150 of them, while genes related to dopamine metabolism were analyzed in almost all participants. The findings revealed that patients with OSA had significantly elevated dopamine concentrations. In addition, one variant of the dopamine receptor gene (DRD2 rs1800497) was associated with more severe symptoms of the condition. 

The discoveries made by the Wrocław research team open the door to new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Measuring dopamine levels and performing genetic analyses could, in the future, complement standard polysomnography testing, enabling faster identification of patients at high risk of severe disease progression. Moreover, modulation of the dopaminergic pathway—for example, with drugs targeting the D2 receptor—may become an innovative form of adjunctive treatment.