Elevated Tau and Interleukin-6 Concentrations in Adults with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by apneas and hypopneas, resulting in hypoxia, cerebral hypoperfusion, endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and oxidative stress. These pathophysiologic processes likely contribute to neuronal damage. Tau is a protein that stabilizes microtubules, which along with amyloid beta (Aβ), is linked to neurodegenerative processes. We sought to determine if tau, and other biomarkers of inflammation, were related to OSA severity.Concentrations of tau, Aβ40 and Aβ42, c-reactive protein (CRP), TNF-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-10 were measured in blood and compared in participants with moderate-severe (n=28), mild OSA (n=22), and healthy controls (n=24).

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