Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy involves breathing close-to-pure oxygen inside a pressurized chamber. The increased pressure allows oxygen to dissolve more deeply into blood plasma, potentially improving cellular energy production, reducing inflammation, and supporting tissue repair. Research in Parkinson's disease is still early, with mixed results.

Maximum Resources

Importance: 5/10 Cost: 8/10 Ease: 4/10

Key Benefits

Increases oxygen delivery to brain and peripheral tissues
May reduce systemic and neural inflammation
Supports mitochondrial energy pathways
Can enhance general recovery and wound healing
Potential neuroprotective effects suggested in preclinical PD models

What the Evidence Says

Supportive Findings

In PD animal models, HBOT has shown reduced neuroinflammation and improved mitochondrial enzyme activity.
Some small human studies suggest modest improvements in motor symptoms, sleep quality, and fatigue.
Meta-analyses show HBOT may help PD patients with sleep dysfunction, improving sleep quality scores.
HBOT is widely used for other conditions requiring enhanced oxygenation, demonstrating a strong safety record when supervised properly.

Uncertainties and Limitations

Large-scale, well-controlled PD studies are limited and results are inconsistent.
Improvements seen in small studies are often modest, not transformative.
Benefits may be due to indirect effects (inflammation reduction) rather than direct neural repair.
Optimal pressure, session length, and total treatment course for PD are not established.
High cost and accessibility issues limit practical usage.

Risks & Contraindications

Ear or sinus barotrauma (pressure-related injury)
Claustrophobia in enclosed chambers
Oxygen toxicity at improper pressures or durations
Not suitable for individuals with certain lung diseases
High cost with uncertain benefit for PD

Selected References

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Improves Parkinson's Disease by Promoting Mitochondrial Biogenesis via the SIRT‑1/PGC‑1α Pathway (2022) : HBOT led to improved mitochondrial biogenesis and function, reduced neurodegeneration markers, and motor improvements in a PD-model (MPTP-induced) mouse study.
Efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an adjunct therapy in the treatment of sleep disorders among patients with Parkinson's disease: a meta‑analysis (2024) : A meta-analysis of RCTs showing HBOT, when added to standard care, improved sleep quality, total sleep time, slow-wave and REM sleep, and modestly improved motor scores (UPDRS III) in PD patients with sleep disturbances.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves Parkinson's disease in a 1‑Methyl‑4‑phenyl‑1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) mouse model (2022) : Demonstrated protective effect of HBOT on dopaminergic neurons and motor performance in MPTP mouse model of PD.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment: Effects on Mitochondrial Function in Neurodegenerative Models (2021) : In animal models, HBOT was shown to improve mitochondrial function, reduce oxidative stress, and support cell survival; relevant even beyond classical PD models.