Hyperbaric oxygen therapy protects the brain & positively impacts Cystain C levels

Cystatin C is a bio marker that is becoming a hot topic in neurology, particularly in its ability to predict new-onset or deteriorating cardiovascular disease. Researchers found that preconditioning the brain with hyperbaric oxygen therapy produces helps to protect the brain (neuroprotection), while positively improving the levels of Cystatin C during injury. They published these findings in the journal of “Stroke” 2017 <view study>

Hyperbaric oxygen helps lower blood sugars

Blood sugar control can be extremely difficult for diabetics and is the main reason why they are at higher risk factors for both strokes and heart attacks. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been known to help sensitize insulin levels and thereby help to reduce blood sugar levels. In this study, they took 52 diabetic patients who had just recently had a stroke within the past month and divided them into 2 groups — those who had a stroke within 10 days and those who had their stroke within 30 days. They then gave both groups a series of of hyperbaric oxygen treatments and followed (pre and post) their insulin levels, fasting blood sugars, and hemoglobin A1C levels (which shows longer-term blood sugar control). Both of these groups were able to demonstrate significant improvements in blood sugars with the addition of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. <view study>

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves neurocognitive functions of post-stroke patients

A 10 year (2008-2018) retrospective analysis was conducted on (chronic) stroke patients (&gt;3 months)

The hyperbaric protocol consisted of 90 minute daily sessions, each at 2.0 ATA (with 5 minute air breaks every 20 minuets), 5 days per week for a total of 40 to 60 sessions.

Even though the patients were treated after a median of 1.5±3.3 years post-stroke, there were significant cognitive improvements in all the cognitive domains which were measured using objective computerized test <view study>

Functional MRI Imaging confirms long-term stroke patients can improve with hyperbaric oxygen therapy, even 15 years after the stroke

Management of chronic strokes remains a challenge within our current medical system, yet the intervention of hyperbaric oxygen therapy has consistently been shown to improve stroke recovery, even years after the brain insult.

This study followed 4 patients (from 14 months to 15 years post stroke) who were given a typical 8 week hyperbaric protocol consisting of 40 individual sessions (at an effective dosage of 1.8 ATA) and evaluated the outcome measures through functional MRI imaging (fMRI). Note, fMRI is a non invasive, robust and reliable technique to assess and monitor neuronal functional change. The results were very impressive and should give encouragement for this protocol to be more widely used within the stroke recovery community. Here is a summary of all 4 patients along with the details regarding their recovery:

60 year old male (14 month old stroke) with severe, non-fluent aphasia, associated with retained comprehension, dyslexia and dysgraphia, a right upper limb spastic paralysis and a right lower limb paresis, and post-stroke depression.

Results — Aphasia and the ability to speak improved noticeably, helping to regain some social life. Accordingly, the negative attitude was replaced by positivity, good mood and interest. Right lower limb paresis improved with better gait and stance. However, the right hand paralysis did not improve, except for a decrease in spasticity.

68 year old male (5 year old stroke with moderate signs of dysarthria (he sounded clumsy in reading aloud short passages), an unsteady, wide-base gait and dysphagia

Results — A marked clinical improvement in the language fluency, such that he was able to read aloud a written text, without a hitch. Ataxia and dysphagia improved as well

48 year old male (15 year old stroke) with recurrent seizures, mild signs of dysarthria, upper left limb paralysis, lower left limb paresis, lack of coordination in the right limbs, severe in the lower right extremity and to a lesser extent in the upper right extremity

Results — He dramatically improved his speech fluency. The left lower limb paresis improved together with an increase in walking autonomy, but he was still unable to flex and extend the left foot rhythmically. Also the right limbs coordination improved. On the contrary, the left upper limb paralysis did not change at all.

34 year old male (17 month old stroke) with global non fluent aphasia with some deficits in the reading comprehension, a complete spastic hemiplegia of the right upper limb with spastic hypertonia, a partial paresis of the right inferior limb (but he was able to walk with some walking aids) and right hemilateral hypoaesthesia

Results — Good improvement in the common everyday acts of his life, as speaking and understanding and also in walking, but not in his upper limb paralysis

Once again, it is important to keep in mind that fMRI imagining confirmed these benefits and can play a future role in determining hyperbaric-based protocols for chronic stroke sufferers <view study>

New brain tissue growth occurs from long course of hyperbaric oxygen

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is widely used as an effective off-label use for stroke victims. Research has found that this therapy not only targets oxygenation of the affected area and reduces inflammation, but also has been shown to promote bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) to proliferate and mobilize, which essentially becomes an important part of the neurogenic (nervous system growth) effects that have been demonstrated from hyperbaric procedures. Mobilization of these BMSCs to the damaged areas was more improved in long course hyperbaric treatments, suggesting the duration of therapy is crucial for promoting their neurogenic effects.

It is important to also note that emerging stem cell research has clearly demonstrated that BMSCs secrete brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and the addition of anti-BDNF neutralizing antibodies to MSC-conditioned medium attenuated its neuroprotective effect <view study>

<p>This study also looked at the release of BDNF and found that a 3-week course of HBOT was able to produce significantly higher levels of BDNF and GDNF, than a shorter 2-day course of HBO. These results indicated that longer and repetitive HBO therapy promoted more neurotrophic factor production, including BDNF and GDNF. <view study>

Hyperbaric Oxygen promotes Neurogenesis

Neurogenesis is the growth and development of the nervous system with new neurons. This process has been shown to be significantly enhanced through the application of hyperbaric oxygenation therapy, particularly following trauma to the brain or central nervous system. A recent article titled “Hyperbaric oxygen therapy promotes neurogenesis: where do we stand?” has just been published. In this article, proposed physiological mechanisms of action are looked at, in a way to gain better understanding of oxygen’s role in neurogenesis <view study>

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy: A new look on treating stroke and traumatic brain injury

“This study demonstrated the ability of HBOT preconditioning as a treatment for inflammation in stroke and TBI, and reducing neuronal cell death”

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for post-stroke depression

Depression is one of the more common consequences of a stroke, affecting as many as 1/3 of stroke victims. This condition, known as post stroke depression (PSD)is currently not (or inadequately) treated by many physicians and needs to be quickly identified and treated appropriately. Based on a “pool of analysis, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is effective and safe therapeutic approach for PSD” <view study>

Preconditioning the brain with hyperbaric oxygen therapy before stroke/TBI to reduce the damage

Currently, there is a great deal of focus and attention being put on hyperbaric oxygen therapy, due to the promising results seen in clinical research and the potential application that this can have for those individuals who have suffered a stroke or TBI. Now, there is strong evidence supporting the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy BEFORE brain trauma or injury, by preconditioning the brain with hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

This study shows that HBOT preconditioning stands as a robust prophylactic treatment for sequestration of inflammation inherent in stroke and TBI. Though we can’t predict when the brain will be under traumatic stress (unless it’s a planned surgical procedure), hyperbaric oxygen may become one of the best ways to protect our brain from future injuries. The following groups of individuals would be the ones that would most likely benefit:

• Athletes and contact sports affect the head

• Patients undergoing planned brain surgery

• High-risk stroke patients

• Those who are at risk for neurodegenerative conditions

• Elderly

The future holds bright for the application of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for being part of both the treatment of brain trauma and the prevention of the severity of damage that can subsequently occur <view study>