New Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Protocol Can Improve Cognitive Function of Older Adults

A new peer-reviewed study published in Aging has demonstrated for the first time that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) can significantly improve the cognitive performance of healthy older adults, reports ScienceDaily . The primary enhancements are in the areas of attention, information processing speed, executive function, and global cognitive function. Researchers also noticed a significant correlation between cognitive changes and better cerebral blood flow in specific brain regions. During HBOT, the subject inhales pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber where the air pressure is upped to twice that of normal air, boosting oxygen solubility in the blood. The additional oxygen stimulates the release of growth factors and stem cells, which promote healing. The investigators showed that this leads to significant improvement in tissue oxygenation while focusing on both oxygen- and pressure-sensitive genes, inducing restored and enhanced tissue metabolism. These targeted genes also activate stem cell proliferation, lower inflammation, and generation of new blood vessels and tissue repair mechanisms. "We found that HBOT induced a significant increase in brain blood flow, which correlated with cognitive improvement," said Tel Aviv University Professor Shai Efrati.