STROKE
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for stroke recovery involves breathing concentrated oxygen inside a pressurized chamber to saturate blood plasma and target hypoxic (low-oxygen) brain tissue. Stroke serves as a life-threatening disease and continues to face many challenges in the development of safe and effective therapeutic options. The use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) demonstrates pre-clinical effectiveness for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke and reports reductions in oxidative stress, inflammation, and neural apoptosis. Equally where a hemorrhagic stroke or suspected stroke has occurred; or post-stroke; HBOT can provide a treatment path.
Study: An Extra Breath of Fresh Air: Hyperbaric Oxygenation as a Stroke Therapeutic
Conclusions: The mechanisms that are in action in regards to HBOT in stroke therapy:
physiological and metabolic effects
antioxidant effects
anti-inflammatory effects
additional neuroprotective mechanisms
Chronological reports of the mechanisms regulating HBOT-induced Neuroprotection HBOT has the ability to preserve vulnerable neural tissue and improve outcomes in stroke models, as seen in pre-clinical studies. However, further research needs to be conducted to find the most effective regimen of HBOT. Even though further research regarding HBOT needs to be studied, current research has advanced our understanding of the mechanisms of HBOT, specifically in the injured and healthy brain.
HBOT has the ability to be applied as a preconditioning mechanism for stem cell transplantation. Research indicates that oxidative preconditioning of stem cell grafts through HBOT may be a viable strategy to promote graft survival and optimize graft function during the post-ischemic environment.
Study: The Effect of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on Functional Impairments Caused by Ischemic Stroke
Conclusion: We found improvements in cognition and executive function as well as physical abilities, specifically, improved gait. Participants reported improved sleep and quality of life following HBOT treatment. We also saw changes in serum levels of biomarkers for inflammation and neural recovery. In the functional domains where improvement was observed following HBOT treatment, the improvements were maintained up to 3 months following the last treatment.
Findings from this study support the idea of HBOT as a potential intervention following stroke.
Study: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves neurocognitive functions of post-stroke patients – a retrospective analysis
Conclusions: HBOT induces significant improvements in all cognitive domains even in the late chronic stage. The selection of post-stroke patients for HBOT should be based on functional analysis and baseline cognitive scores rather than the stroke type, location or side of lesion.
Study: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy combined with computerized cognitive training improves global cognition and functional independence post-stroke: a randomized controlled trial
Conclusion: Combined HBOT and CCT may represent a beneficial intervention for patients with PSCI and could be associated with changes in global cognition, functional independence in basic ADLs, and prefrontal functional connectivity.
Study: A Dual Role for Hyperbaric Oxygen in Stroke Neuroprotection: Preconditioning of the Brain and Stem Cells
Conclusion: Preclinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy of HBOT in preserving vulnerable neural tissue and improving functional outcomes in various stroke models
Study: Hyperbaric Oxygen Induces Late Neuroplasticity in Post Stroke Patients - Randomized, Prospective Trial
Conclusion: The results indicate that HBOT can lead to significant neurological improvements in post stroke patients even at chronic late stages. The observed clinical improvements imply that neuroplasticity can still be activated long after damage onset in regions where there is a brain SPECT/CT (anatomy/physiology) mismatch.
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0053716