Summary of Study
The study titled “Hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a new treatment approach for Alzheimer’s disease” explores how hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) may treat Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a leading cause of dementia. AD lacks an effective cure, and current treatments only marginally affect disease progression. This study investigates if HBOT can alleviate key AD pathologies, such as hypoxia, neuroinflammation, beta-amyloid plaques, and tau protein tangles, in a mouse model. The study raises questions on whether HBOT could target multiple disease-related mechanisms and offer a therapeutic effect for AD.
Methodology
Researchers used a mouse model (3xTg-AD mice) that exhibits Alzheimer’s-like pathologies. The mice received daily hyperbaric treatments at 2 atmospheres absolute (ATA) with 100% oxygen for 60 minutes over 14 days. A control group received regular air under normal pressure. Researchers then conducted behavioral tests and examined brain samples to measure improvements in cognitive performance, levels of beta-amyloid plaques, tau phosphorylation, and markers of inflammation.
Results
HBOT significantly improved cognitive performance in the treated mice. In behavioral tests, HBOT-treated mice performed better than controls. HBOT also reduced hypoxia in the brain, decreased beta-amyloid plaques, and lowered tau phosphorylation. Furthermore, HBOT reduced inflammation by decreasing pro-inflammatory markers and increasing anti-inflammatory responses. The study shows that HBOT can target and mitigate multiple aspects of Alzheimer’s pathology in this animal model.
Conclusion
The findings suggest that hyperbaric therapy could be an effective treatment approach for Alzheimer’s disease by addressing core disease mechanisms such as hypoxia and inflammation. HBOT demonstrated potential in slowing AD progression and improving cognitive functions, especially in the early stages. As a safe, non-invasive option, HBOT may represent a new platform for AD treatment. Further research is needed to optimize protocols for human application and to identify AD patients who would benefit most from this therapy.
Source: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a new treatment approach for Alzheimer’s disease | Ronit Shapira, Shai Efrati, Uri Ashery | PMCID: PMC5998622 | PMID: 29863011