Outcome

The study reveals that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has substantial potential for addressing both aging-related and obesity-related cognitive decline. By administering HBOT at 2 atmospheres absolute (ATA) with pure oxygen researchers observed remarkable improvements across multiple pathological parameters.

Introduction

The rise in the obese elderly population globally has brought increased attention to the influence of obesity and aging on brain health. Both conditions are known to contribute significantly to neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. This study explores the potential of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) as a treatment to counteract these negative effects. Researchers administered HBOT at 2 atmospheres absolute (ATA) using pure oxygen over a period of 14 days to rats on high-fat and normal diets some of which were also treated with d-galactose to induce insulin resistance and other cognitive impairments. The results were promising showing that HBOT reduced insulin resistance cognitive decline and hippocampal aging-related pathologies. This suggests that HBOT could be a powerful tool in restoring cognitive function and reducing brain aging markers in both aging and obese models highlighting its potential for broader therapeutic use in humans.

Results

The study investigated the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on cognitive decline and hippocampal pathologies in aging and aging-obese rat models. Over a period of 22 weeks sixty Wistar rats were fed either a normal diet (ND) or a high-fat diet (HFD). From week 13 a subset of ND rats received d-galactose (d-gal) injections to simulate aging while HFD rats received continuous d-gal injections to model the combined conditions of aging and obesity. HBOT was administered at 2 atmospheres absolute (ATA) with pure oxygen for 80 minutes per day over 14 days.

The results demonstrated significant improvements following HBOT across several key areas. Rats treated with d-gal showed pronounced metabolic and cognitive impairments including insulin resistance increased oxidative stress impaired autophagy microglial hyperactivation apoptosis and synaptic dysplasticity. Specifically d-gal-treated HFD-fed rats exhibited the highest levels of oxidative stress apoptosis and dendritic spine loss indicating severe cognitive decline and hippocampal dysfunction.

However HBOT markedly ameliorated these pathological conditions in both aging and aging-obese rat models. Post-HBOT treatment there was a significant reduction in insulin resistance and oxidative stress. Additionally cognitive impairments observed in the rats were considerably alleviated. HBOT also facilitated the restoration of hippocampal function reducing aging markers within the hippocampus.

The findings indicate that HBOT is effective in mitigating metabolic disturbances alleviating cognitive decline and reversing hippocampal pathologies associated with aging and obesity. These results suggest that HBOT holds substantial therapeutic potential for improving cognitive functions and reducing brain aging markers in both elderly and obese populations.

Conclusion

In conclusion this study demonstrates the promising potential of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for addressing cognitive decline associated with aging and obesity. The administration of HBOT at 2 ATA with pure oxygen significantly alleviated insulin resistance oxidative stress and cognitive impairment in both aging and aging-obese rat models. Furthermore HBOT restored hippocampal function and reduced markers of aging within the hippocampus such as autophagy impairment microglial hyperactivation apoptosis and synaptic dysplasticity. These findings underscore the therapeutic value of HBOT in mitigating metabolic disturbances and enhancing cognitive health particularly in aging populations burdened by obesity. Given the rising prevalence of neurodegenerative conditions in obese elderly individuals globally these results offer a compelling case for further research into HBOT as a non-invasive treatment option. Future studies should explore the translational potential of HBOT in human clinical settings and investigate its long-term efficacy and safety across diverse populations.