Study Shows Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) May Reverse Early Alzheimer’s Symptoms and Amyloid Plaques

Can science reverse Alzheimer’s disease? A groundbreaking study has brought scientists one step closer to preventing and curing age-related cognitive decline, especially related to the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

This landmark study, published in Aging on September 9, is part of an ongoing program researching age-related cognitive decline. Conducted by the Sagol School of Neuroscience and Tel Aviv University, the study marks the first time that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) — a noninvasive and non-pharmaceutical method — has proven effective in reversing the main activators and early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

HBOT is a form of oxygen therapy that involves administering 100% pure oxygen to a patient in a pressurized environment. It has been used for more than half a century to treat conditions such as non-healing wounds and decompression sickness. The study used a specific protocol of hyperbaric oxygen therapy designed to initiate the hyperoxic-hypoxic paradox in cells.

A treatment based on this unique protocol is now available at Aviv Clinics Florida.

How Aging and Blood Flow Contribute to Alzheimer’s Risk

The brain is an incredibly complex organ, home to a vast network of nerve cells (neurons) that rely on oxygen to thrive. As we age, the number of efficient and effective blood vessels in our brain naturally begins to decline. This causes reduced blood flow to the brain, which in turn causes the brain to receive less oxygen. This decreased blood flow is called vascular dysfunction, and it’s a known precursor to Alzheimer’s disease, along with amyloid plaques.

Amyloid Plaques and Their Role in Alzheimer’s Disease

Amyloid plaques are hard, insoluble clusters of proteins formed in the spaces between the neurons in your brain. A healthy brain usually flushes them out without consequence. However, just like plaque can accumulate on your teeth if you don’t clean them regularly, the same thing can happen in your brain.

As the brain ages, it’s more susceptible to forming amyloid plaques in its blood vessel walls. Once an amyloid plaque forms, it can damage the neurons in the brain. These plaques are thought to contribute to the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and the cognitive decline associated with it.

For years, scientists have wondered whether or not it’s even possible to dissolve or shrink amyloid plaques. The groundbreaking new study proves for the first time that a unique protocol of HBOT can reverse amyloid plaques and prevent them from forming in the first place.

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Reverse Alzheimer’s? Study Shows HBOT Protocol May Reduce Amyloid Plaques and Boost Cognition

Researchers initially treated laboratory mice with hyperbaric oxygen therapy to understand its effect on amyloid plaques. In this first part of the study, researchers delivered HBOT to a group of mice whose brains contained amyloid plaques. The mice received two 60-minute HBOT sessions a day, five days a week, for four weeks. The researchers discovered that HBOT significantly reduced the amyloid burden in the mice’s brains, decreasing amyloid plaques by over 30% and shrinking plaques by nearly 19%.

HBOT was also shown to prevent the formation of new amyloid plaques, and the mice exhibited improved performance on cognitive tasks when compared to the control group, providing evidence that HBOT improved their cognitive functions.

The rodent study gave promising new evidence that HBOT can be used as both a treatment and a preventative measure for Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers then sought to use the same protocol with human subjects.

The human test group consisted of six patients around age 70, all suffering from mild cognitive impairment. After receiving 60 daily HBOT sessions over three months, patients saw significant improvements in their cognitive functions. Improvements included better memory recall, concentration, and response times.

The researchers hypothesize that this is due to HBOT’s ability to increase blood flow in the brain. When the brain receives more blood, it receives more oxygen. And when the brain receives more oxygen, it can function at a higher capacity.

 

 

The Future of Alzheimer’s Treatment: Hope Through HBOT

The study offers hope that HBOT can one day be a viable drug-free method to prevent, treat, and even potentially reverse Alzheimer’s disease.

“By treating vascular dysfunction, we’re mapping out the path toward Alzheimer’s prevention. More research is underway to further demonstrate how HBOT can improve cognitive function and become an influential tool in the imperative fight against the disease,” affirms Dr. Shai Efrati, one of the investigators conducting the study.

Access the Only U.S. Clinic Offering this Alzheimer’s HBOT Protocol

Dr. Efrati is chair of the Aviv Medical Advisory Board. Aviv Clinics in central Florida is the largest and most advanced civilian  HBOT clinic in the United States, and the only one that offers the study’s specific HBOT protocol as part of the Aviv Medical Program. This personalized treatment program uses comprehensive testing and assessments to help craft a treatment plan for each client. As part of the program, HBOT can be supported by other evidence-based therapies, including nutrition counseling, cognitive exercises, and physical training to optimize client outcomes.

For more information about the Aviv Medical Program, HBOT treatment, and how it may help your brain health, please contact us.

To read the study published in Journal Aging – click here.

 

Last Update: July 3, 2025