Sleep Disordered Breathing, APOE, and Lipid Metabolism
Sleep Disordered Breathing, APOE, and Lipid Metabolism
To examine the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and lipid metabolism.
BACKGROUND:

 Recent findings suggest interrelationships between obstructive sleep apnea, lipid metabolism,
 and neurodegeneration. Apolipoprotein E epsilon4 (APOE e4), a genetic marker linked to
 increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and Alzheimer's disease (AD), is associated with
 a two fold increased risk of sleep disordered breathing (SDB), and an increase in severity of
 apnea symptoms. Preliminary data suggest that this association is stronger between the ages
 of 50 and 65. Other experiments suggest dysregulated leptin levels in obstructive sleep apnea
 (OSA). Taken together, these findings suggest common pathophysiological mechanisms involving
 dysregulated lipid metabolism in OSA. An understanding of these mechanisms is essential for
 the prevention and treatment of SDB.

 DESIGN NARRATIVE:

 Using case/control and family designs, the study: 1) extends the finding that apolipoprotein
 E epsilon4 (APOE e4) increases the risk of sleep apnea in the general population; 2) examines
 if polymorphisms in other genes regulating lipid levels are associated with sleep apnea; 3)
 studies the relationship between lipid regulatory gene polymorphisms, lipid profile (LDL-
 cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides), plasma leptin (and other lipid regulatory
 hormones), and sleep apnea levels.

 T
No eligibility criteria