Cognitive enhancement of healthy older adults using hyperbaric oxygen: a randomized controlled trial.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized controlled trial
PubMed 32589613 · doi:10.18632/aging.103571
What was done
Sixty-three healthy adults over age 64 were randomized to either a 3-month hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) intervention (n=33) or a control arm (n=30). The primary endpoint was general cognitive function measured post-intervention. Cerebral blood flow was evaluated via perfusion magnetic resonance imaging with voxel-based analysis.
What was found
A significant group-by-time interaction favored HBOT over control for global cognitive function (p=0.0017). The largest cognitive improvements were in attention (net effect size=0.745) and information processing speed (net effect size=0.788). In addition, significant increases in cerebral blood flow were observed in the HBOT group relative to controls across several frontal and parietal regions (BA6, BA7, BA8, BA9, and BA10).
Why it matters
This study provides randomized trial evidence that hyperbaric oxygen therapy can enhance cognitive performance and regional brain perfusion in healthy aging adults.
Limits
The sample size is small (n=63). The abstract does not specify whether the control group received a sham treatment or if blinding was maintained, nor does it report long-term persistence of effects beyond the 3-month intervention period.
Cited by
- supports A study published from Israel demonstrated that hyperbaric oxygen therapy improved brain health, rejuvenation, and longevity markers.