The effectiveness of Hyperbaric Treatment in slowing down aging

Researchers from Tel Aviv University, the Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research, and the Shamir Medical Center conducted a study in which they concluded that Hyperbaric Chamber Treatment (HBOT) increases telomere length and decreases immunosenescence in isolated blood cells, thereby slowing the aging process.

This biological deterioration is a major risk factor for cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease among others. At the cellular level, there are two key features of the aging process: shortening of telomere length and cellular senescence.

“While many genetic and environmental factors are associated with telomere shortening, the most common suggest mechanism is oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can occur from imbalances between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cellular scavengers. Telomeres are highly sensitive to oxidative DNA damage, which can induce telomere shortening and dysfunction. The association between oxygen and/or oxidative stress and telomere length has been debated for the past several decades.”

“Exposing cell cultures to a hyperbaric environment has been previously suggested to induce significant oxidative stress and premature cells senescence”. To study the effects of Hyperbaric Therapy on these two factors, the group of researchers led by Shai Efrati and Amir Hadanny treated 35 healthy people with an average age of 64 years. The patients received daily sessions of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.

It was concluded that repeated daily sessions of Hyperbaric Chamber Therapy can increase telomere length by more than 20% in an aging population. B cells have the most striking change. In addition, Hyperbaric Oxygenation decreases the number of senescent cells by 10-37%. Senescent T-helper cells are the most affected.

The scientists determined that these changes in genetics brought about by hyperbaric oxygen therapy, in addition to lengthening telomeres, also have a potentially positive effect on tissue health.

In conclusion, the study indicates that Hyperbaric Oxygenation Treatment can induce senolytic effects, including significantly increasing telomere length and eliminating senescent cells in aging populations.

What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

It is a non-invasive method of delivering high concentrations of oxygen in a pressurized Hyperbaric Chamber at a minimum of 1.4 atmospheres ATM (higher than the normal ambient atmospheric pressure of 1 atmosphere). This generates hyperoxia which in turn has different physiological effects on the body.

This treatment can be indicated for ischemic events, non-healing wounds, radiation injuries and hypoxic events.

In recent years, several clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of HBOT for neurological pathologies including idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss, stroke and post-traumatic brain injury, central sensitization syndromes such as fibromyalgia syndrome and age-related cognitive syndrome, and even Alzheimer's disease.