VeryWell: Is sleep apnea genetic? In extremely rare cases, central sleep apnea can be linked to genetics, but genes are a more common culprit in OSA.
In extremely rare cases, central sleep apnea can be linked to genetics, but genes are a much more common culprit in obstructive sleep apnea. Some studies estimate that nearly 75% of people with obstructive sleep apnea inherited the disorder in some way.
This article with explore the different types of sleep apnea, how genetics may be involved, and what to expect with a sleep apnea diagnosis.
Unlike central sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea is linked to genetics in several ways.
First, many of the risk factors that can lead to sleep apnea—like high blood pressure and heart disease—carry a hereditary component to them. If you have a family history of conditions that increase your risk for sleep apnea, you should talk to your healthcare provider about any symptoms you might be having.
On top of an increased risk from these inherited conditions, there are also specific genes that have been linked to the development of sleep apnea.
These include:
- Angiopoietin-2 gene (ANGPT2)
- −308G/A polymorphism of the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα)
- Prostaglandin E2 receptor EP3 subtype (PTGER3)
- Lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1 (LPAR1)
- G-protein receptor gene (GPR83)
- β-arrestin 1 gene (ARRB1)
- Dopamine receptor D1 encoding gene (DRD1)
- Serotonin receptor encoding gene (HTR2A)
There are many types of sleep disorders—and all kinds of diseases that are inherited by genes passed down through families. You can inherit sleep apnea, or a condition that can increase your risk of developing sleep apnea.
