A new retrospective study conducted by the Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research and Tel Aviv University, and highlighted by Aviv Clinics, suggests that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) can significantly improve cognitive function in adults suffering from post-concussion syndrome (PCS) as a result of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) they sustained during childhood. The research, which included 26 participants, found that these individuals showed notable cognitive gains even decades after their initial injury, regardless of the time elapsed or the initial severity of the TBI.
Key Findings and HBOT Protocol
The study’s participants, who were adults who had suffered a TBI before the age of 17, received at least 40 sessions of HBOT. The results showed significant improvements in several cognitive areas:
- Global cognition (8.06 points)
- Memory (9.82 points)
- Executive function (5.94 points)
- Attention (8.50 points)
- Information processing speed (9.84 points)
These gains were statistically significant and the effect sizes ranged from medium to large, indicating their clinical relevance.
The HBOT protocol used by Aviv Clinics involves administering 100% oxygen at an increased atmospheric pressure. It is based on a concept known as the „hyperoxic-hypoxic paradox“, where fluctuating oxygen levels during treatment induce the body’s natural regenerative and healing processes without the negative effects of true hypoxia (low oxygen). These mechanisms, including neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to reorganize itself) and angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels), are believed to be the reason for the observed improvements.
This study is particularly noteworthy as it is the first to focus on adults with PCS from childhood TBI, offering hope for neuroplastic recovery and long-term rehabilitation for a population that has often been underserved.