Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for cognitive function is still being studied.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) means breathing concentrated oxygen inside a pressurized chamber. Researchers are studying whether hyperbaric oxygen therapy for cognitive function may support attention, memory and processing speed in some groups of people. It is not FDA-cleared for memory loss, cognitive decline or dementia.
You may have found this page looking for treatments for cognitive impairment. HBOT is not an approved treatment for cognitive impairment, and Suntree Hyperbaric Center does not present it as one. What we can offer people in Brevard County is a clear explanation, a health history review, and a calm conversation about whether a wellness session makes sense for them.
What one research group has reported.
Many of the best-known studies come from a team at Shamir Medical Center in Israel, including Dr. Amir Hadanny and Dr. Shai Efrati. In a 2020 trial, 63 healthy adults aged 64 and older were randomly assigned to HBOT or to no intervention. The HBOT group completed 60 sessions over about three months. The researchers reported gains in attention and information processing speed, along with increased blood flow in parts of the brain on MRI.
The same group later ran a sham-controlled trial in people with post-COVID symptoms and reported improvements in attention, executive function and energy compared with the sham group.
These results are interesting, and they also have limits. The 2020 study had no sham group and participants knew which group they were in. Samples were small, follow-up was short, and much of the work comes from one center. A 2022 systematic review of 42 studies described the overall findings on HBOT and cognition as controversial and called for better-designed research.
Brain fog, memory loss and dementia are different questions.
Brain fog is a symptom, not a diagnosis. Poor sleep, thyroid problems, low vitamin levels, medication side effects, mood changes and recent illness can all play a part. Some of those causes are simple to test for and address, so a visit with your primary care doctor is a good first step.
Memory loss that is getting worse, or a diagnosis such as Alzheimer's disease, belongs with your physician or a neurologist. The FDA has published a consumer caution about HBOT claims for a list of conditions that includes Alzheimer's disease. You can read it on the FDA website.
A research protocol is not the same as a wellness visit.
The studies above used long courses of frequent sessions, often 90 minutes at 2.0 ATA with air breaks, five days a week. A standard session at Suntree is 60 minutes in a two-seat chamber rated for up to 2.0 ATA, and the team confirms the pressure and protocol for your sessions. Do not assume a handful of visits will match what a study reported.
If you are weighing a longer series, it helps to understand how session counts are usually discussed and to compare single-session and membership pricing before you commit.
Safety comes before any session.
HBOT is not right for everyone. Before a first visit, the team reviews your health history and talks through risks, including:
- Ear and sinus pressure, and ear barotrauma if equalizing is difficult
- Sinus congestion or a recent cold
- A history of collapsed lung or certain lung conditions
- Pregnancy, some medications, and claustrophobia
Talk with your own physician too, especially if you have a neurological condition or take several medications. Our first visit guide explains what happens on the day.