Pathogenic links and mechanistic interactions between sarcopenia and obstructive sleep apnea

Figure 1 Potential interaction mechanisms in sarcopenia and obstructive sleep apnea. The diagram elucidates the intricate interplay between sarcopenia, a condition of age-related loss of muscle mass and function, and obstructive sleep apnea, a common sleep disorder characterized by recurrent upper airway obstruction during sleep. The mechanisms portrayed in the diagram suggest that there may be direct physiological and pathological links between sarcopenia and obstructive sleep apnea, which can exacerbate each other through their impacts on neuromuscular transmission, immune responses, and cellular injury and repair processes. CNS: Central nervous system; OSA: Obstructive sleep apnea; Ach: Acetylcholine.