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REVIEW article

Front. Neurol.
Sec. Neurorehabilitation
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1450134
This article is part of the Research Topic Application of Noninvasive Neuromodulation in Cognitive Rehabilitation Volume II View all 7 articles

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy as a Neuromodulatory Technique: A Review of the Recent Evidence

Provisionally accepted
Othman Bin-Alamer Othman Bin-Alamer 1,2*Hussam Abou-Al-Shaar Hussam Abou-Al-Shaar 3Shai Efrati Shai Efrati 4Amir Hadanny Amir Hadanny 4Robert L. Beckman Robert L. Beckman 5Mohammed Elamir Mohammed Elamir 6Joseph C. Maroon Joseph C. Maroon 3
  • 1 Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, United States
  • 2 Division of Neurosurgery, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, California, United States
  • 3 Department of Neurological Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
  • 4 The Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Ramle, Israel
  • 5 Foundation for the Study of Inflammatory Disease, Bethesda, United States
  • 6 Aviv Clinic, The Villages, United States

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has recently emerged as a promising neuromodulatory modality for treating several neurological and psychological disorders. Various studies indicate that HBOT can promote brain recovery and neuroplasticity through the modulation of key cellular and molecular mechanisms. HBOT affects multiple primary pathways and cellular functions including mitochondrial biogenesis and function (increased Bcl-2, reduced Bax, and enhanced ATP production), neurogenesis (upregulation of Wnt-3 and VEGF/ERK signaling), synaptogenesis (elevated GAP43 and synaptophysin expression), and anti-inflammatory responses (reduced TNF-α and IL-6). These mechanisms contribute to significant clinical benefits, such as enhanced cognitive function, improved recovery from traumatic brain injury and post-concussion syndrome, and symptom reduction in conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder and fibromyalgia. By influencing these molecular targets, HBOT offers a novel approach to neuromodulation that warrants further exploration. This review discusses the representative mechanisms of action of HBOT and highlights its therapeutic neuromodulatory effects and potential clinical applications across various neurological and psychiatric conditions.

    Keywords: hyperbaric oxygen therapy, Neuromodulation, mental illness, neurological disorders, Post-Concussion Syndrome, Post-traumatic stress disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury

    Received: 17 Jun 2024; Accepted: 23 Aug 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Bin-Alamer, Abou-Al-Shaar, Efrati, Hadanny, Beckman, Elamir and Maroon. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Othman Bin-Alamer, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, United States

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.