Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Dementia

The neurodegenerative condition known as Alzheimer’s disease progressively worsens over time and currently has no cure. Dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease is generally accepted as the most common form of dementia in the elderly. Dementia affects millions of people every year, and that number is only expected to rise as the world’s population ages.

A new study from Tel Aviv University (TAU) shows that this field has vast unrealized potential.

Dementia is a common problem among the elderly, and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading cause of this problem. Despite the fact that the exact mechanism of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) development has not yet been identified, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been shown to be an effective treatment for AD.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a medical treatment that has been around for a while that involves breathing 100% oxygen in a pressurized environment. It is possible that this therapy could be used to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease or even prevent its development. This is the case, as shown by the results of a recent study conducted by academics at Shamir Medical Center and Tel Aviv University.

This research demonstrates that elderly patients with severe memory loss, as well as mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease, can benefit from hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) by increasing their cerebral blood flow and cognitive function. Also, they show for the first time that HBOT can reduce amyloid plaques in these mouse models of the disease. Amyloid plaques are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, so this finding is encouraging for those who suffer from the disease.

There is a correlation between the severity of cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s disease and the extent to which cerebral blood flow is reduced, and thus the degree to which oxygen supply to the brain (hypoxia) decreases, thus increasing the risk of dementia. The research team hypothesized that if they could develop a way to target vascular dysfunctions like reduced vessel diameters, it might provide a way to treat Alzheimer’s disease, for which there is currently no effective treatment.

The TAU research team found that Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Dementia was effective in reestablishing normal brain function. This is the first time that a therapy that does not rely on the use of drugs has been shown to effectively prevent the fundamental biological processes that are thought to be responsible for the development of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, which is both noteworthy and encouraging. This is a major success.

Mechanisms in Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Dementia

Drug therapy and environmental modifications are the mainstays of current care for those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, but there is little evidence to suggest that these approaches improve patient outcomes or slow the progression of the disease. However, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Dementia works because it brings pure oxygen to tissues that may not be getting enough of it.

Because there is evidence to suggest that hypoxia, or low oxygen levels, may play a role in the beginning, progression, or severity of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, it is imperative that precautions be taken to avoid being exposed to conditions that could put one at risk for developing these diseases. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, often known as HBOT, is a treatment method that was developed expressly to address this issue by delivering highly purified oxygen to tissues that are deficient in it.

In addition, there is some evidence to suggest that hyperbaric oxygen therapy, often known as HBOT, can ameliorate the degenerative processes associated with dementia, such as microcirculation and mitochondrial dysfunction. We have also noticed that hyperbaric therapy can enhance the formation of new blood vessels and nerve cells in the brain. Both of these things are needed for the repair of injured brain tissue, therefore the promotion of their growth by hyperbaric therapy is a significant benefit. Our continued discussion provided evidence in support of this assertion.

In the TAU study, researchers first looked at animal prototypes. The examination of brain tissues from animal models allowed the researchers to quickly prove that certain HBOT protocols enhanced vascular functioning and induced the growth of new blood vessels.

Moreover, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Dementia prevented the accumulation of new amyloid plaques (aggregates of misfolded proteins that form in the gaps between nerve cells) on brain cells and even eliminated some of the preexisting deposits.

This is a major discovery because Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of neurodegeneration have been linked to specific types of proteins found in the brain.

In the next stage of the study, participants were asked to be over the age of 65 and experiencing some form of cognitive decline (especially if they displayed memory loss, as this is normally an indicator of oncoming Alzheimer’s disease and dementia). People who were experiencing cognitive decline were recruited for this second stage of the study.

High-resolution perfusion MRI was used to assess treatment outcomes after patients had received 60 sessions of HBOT over the course of three months.

It appeared that blood flow had increased by 16-23%, that memory had improved significantly, that one’s attention had sharpened, and that one’s processing speed had accelerated.

When treating elderly patients with memory loss, hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been shown to increase blood flow to the brain and improve cognitive function. Even though the patients were already suffering from memory loss, this was still the case. Because of this, we were able to prove that hyperbaric medicine has untapped potential for treating neurological conditions caused by a lack of oxygen reaching the cells.

In light of these findings, it seems plausible that age-related cognitive decline can be halted in its tracks by addressing the underlying causes of the condition. Despite the fact that much more study is required, these findings suggest this.

Patients suffering from these neurological disorders may find relief through the use of HBOT. The earlier a patient begins treatment, the greater their likelihood of a positive outcome. Please get in touch with us if you’re curious about these cutting-edge therapies and would like to speak with our experts.

How does Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy work?

When we breathe in, oxygen enters the bloodstream; only the red blood cells are capable of transporting this gas around the body. This typically occurs under typical circumstances. Upon application of sufficient pressure, oxygen can be dissolved in plasma, lymphatic fluid, CNS fluids, and even bone. As a result, significantly more oxygen can be dissolved, transported, and delivered to our tissues and cells than is normally possible.

The utilization of hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been shown to improve the patient’s quality of life in a variety of different ways. Treatment with hyperbaric oxygen has shown positive results for a number of medical disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and stroke.

Because of low oxygen levels in the tissue, the body is unable to mend many different portions of itself. It’s possible that oxygen won’t be able to get to the afflicted area fast enough to be of any use if there are problems with circulation or if wounds don’t heal properly, for example.

It is feasible to give oxygen to regions where there is insufficient blood flow or where blood flow is obstructed. By giving additional oxygen to the wounded tissues, this facilitates the natural healing process that occurs within the body. As a result of the increased availability of oxygen, white blood cells are better able to clear bacteria; swelling is reduced; and new blood vessels are able to grow into the damaged areas more quickly.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Dementia is an effective, safe, and relatively side-effect-free method of increasing oxygen absorption.

The Top 10 Advantages of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Increased blood flow and oxygen saturation (Immediate increase in free-floating oxygen available for tissue use)
Creation of new blood vessels; angiogenesis (new blood vessel growth)
Improved innate immunity thanks to supercharged white blood cells (improved neutrophil and macrophage activity)
Chemicals that repair damaged nerves (increases in VegF, BDNF, HIF1)
Recovery from injury or illness enhanced by healing (PDGF, VegF, collagen production circulatory healing)
the release of progenitor cells (up to an 8-fold increase in mesenchymal and CNS stem cells)
Vasoconstriction (reduction of tissue swelling and edema) (decrease edema and swelling from damaged tissues)
Mitochondrial DNA regeneration (increase in size, shape, and number of mitochondria)
Inhibitory of Inflammation (ICytokines Decreased, ICytokines Increased) (reduction of inflammatory cytokines, increase in anti-inflammatory cytokines)
Reconciling Antimicrobial and Microbiome Effects (reduction in anaerobic pathogens and increase in aerobic probiotics)

A wide variety of treatment chambers are currently on the market. Monoplace chambers are those that only allow one person in at a time, while multiplace chambers can fit two, three, or even ten people (multiplace chambers). Hard materials, such as steel or acrylic, may be used to construct some chambers, while softer materials, such as wood or fabric, may be used to construct others. Despite the fact that all hyperbaric chambers pressurize and that all hyperbaric chambers use a combination of pressure and oxygen to create the many benefits and effects we see, soft chambers are thought to provide a gentler form of hyperbaric treatment, while hard chambers are capable of providing both a higher pressure and a higher level of oxygen.

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