Dr. Paul Harch, Clinical Professor and Director of Hyperbaric Medicine at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, together with Dr. Edward Fogarty, Chairman of Radiology at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine, have unveiled a significant finding. They present the first-ever documented case, using PET scans, of improved brain metabolism in Alzheimer’s disease through hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).
The Treatment
The study revolves around a 58-year-old woman who experienced five years of cognitive decline, marked by a rapid deterioration of mental abilities.
The patient underwent 40 HBOT sessions, five days a week for 66 days. With 1.15 atmosphere absolute and 50-minute sessions, the results were striking. After just 21 sessions, increased energy, better mood, and improved daily activities were reported. The real transformation occurred after 40 sessions: enhanced memory, concentration, sleep, conversations, appetite, and even computer usage. Motor skills, cognitive functions, and tremors also improved.
Scientific Triumph: A Remarkable Discovery
Post-HBOT, a follow-up 18FDG PET scan, taken a month later, revealed an astonishing 6.5-38% improvement in brain metabolism. Dr. Paul Harch highlights, “We showed the most significant brain metabolism improvement for Alzheimer’s disease through any therapy.” This achievement could signal a groundbreaking shift, introducing a treatment that temporarily not only halts but reverses disease progression.
We demonstrated the largest improvement in brain metabolism of any therapy for Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr. Harch
The report includes visual evidence, using video imaging, showcasing brain function improvements, making the progress understandable to non-medical audiences. Dr. Fogarty emphasizes the importance of these findings, suggesting that the biomarker system established by this intervention offers hope for dementia recovery, a field that has long puzzled researchers.
Conclusion
The potential for a promising approach to long-term Alzheimer’s treatment lies in the combination of HBOT and pharmacotherapy. With each step, we draw nearer to a future where the effects of Alzheimer’s disease can be temporarily reversed, not merely mitigated.
Source :
HBOT Showed Improvement in Alzheimer’s Disease. LSU Health. https://www.lsuhsc.edu/newsroom/HBOT%20Showed%20Improvement%20in%20Alzheimer%E2%80%99s%20Disease.html