Summary of Study
The study titled “Hyperbaric oxygen ameliorates cognitive impairment in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and amnestic mild cognitive impairment“ explores the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). It investigates whether HBOT, known to improve tissue oxygenation, can serve as an alternative treatment for cognitive decline in these patients. Researchers aimed to assess improvements in cognitive functions and activities of daily living after HBOT.
Methodology
The study involved 42 AD patients, 11 aMCI patients, and 30 AD patients as controls who did not receive HBOT. AD and aMCI patients received hyperbaric treatments of 40 minutes each day for 20 days. Cognitive functions were assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale before treatment, as well as at 1, 3, and 6 months post-treatment. Positron emission tomography (PET) was conducted on a subset to examine brain metabolism changes.
Results
After one course of HBOT, AD patients showed significant improvements in MMSE and MoCA scores at the 1-month follow-up. Improvements persisted for aMCI patients in MMSE and MoCA scores at 1 and 3 months. AD patients also experienced better ADL scores at 1 and 3 months. Compared to control AD patients, those receiving HBOT demonstrated enhanced cognitive scores at 1 month. PET scans indicated improved brain glucose metabolism in some AD and aMCI patients after HBOT.
Conclusion
Hyperbaric therapy for Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment shows potential as a non-pharmacological intervention by enhancing brain oxygenation, which may delay disease progression and improve daily function. However, the benefits appear temporary, suggesting multiple HBOT courses might extend these effects. Future studies with larger sample sizes and additional biomarkers are needed to further explore HBOT’s efficacy as a promising therapy for AD and aMCI.
Source: Hyperbaric oxygen ameliorates cognitive impairment in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and amnestic mild cognitive impairment | Jianwen Chen, Feng Zhang, Li Zhao, Cheng Cheng, Rujia Zhong, Chunbo Dong, Weidong Le | DOI: 10.1002/trc2.12030 | PMCID: PMC7293997 | PMID: 32548235