The Hyperflexible People Who May Help Unlock Better Sleep Apnea Treatments

In 2023, Dr. Mitchell Miller, a sleep medicine specialist in Florida, encountered an atypical sleep apnea patient: a 33-year-old slender woman with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a genetic disorder causing hyperflexibility and tissue laxity. EDS patients have a sixfold increased risk of sleep apnea due to looseness in muscles and tissues that help keep the airway open during sleep. Miller diagnosed her with moderate to severe apnea and treated her with an experimental therapy called hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HGNS), which involves implanting a device that sends electrical pulses to the nerve controlling tongue movement to prevent airway blockage. This approach led to a complete and lasting resolution of her sleep apnea symptoms over two years. The case highlights the need for better sleep apnea treatments beyond the standard continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, which many patients find uncomfortable or intolerable. Despite CPAP’s effectiveness, only about 30% of users maintain long-term adherence. HG