Memory loss can be concerning, especially if it becomes more common or if it’s noticeable to others. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) could improve your memory issues by supporting optimal brain health and function. Here’s how.
As you get older, you may notice that your memory isn’t as good as it used to be, and memory loss isn’t just due to aging; it’s also associated with serious underlying issues.
While there’s no cure for memory loss, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is emerging as a safe, noninvasive, drug-free therapy to help restore memory function and prevent or slow future memory loss.
At Vayu Advanced Wound Clinic and Hyperbarics, board-certified physician Dr. Badam offers hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to treat memory loss in patients at her San Antonio, Texas, practice. If you’re struggling with memory issues, Dr. Badam explains how HBOT could help you.
How memory loss happens
Memory is a complex process that involves the creation and storage of memories and knowledge, as well as its retrieval. While everyone experiences minor forgetfulness from time to time, memory loss tends to become more common with age, and it’s also closely associated with several neurocognitive and cerebrovascular ailments, including dementia and stroke.
Because memory is such a complex process, we’re still learning how it works, as well as why memory loss occurs. What we do know is that memory loss is often associated with inflammation, as well as a decrease in oxygen necessary for normal cell activity.
In fact, oxygen plays a crucial role in supporting normal nerve function, including nerve signaling involved in memory and other cognitive functions.
As you age, your circulation can suffer as a result of heart dysfunction, cholesterol buildup, and other conditions affecting the cardiovascular system. Decreased circulation means less oxygen reaches your brain, making memory issues more likely.
HBOT for memory loss
While the role of HBOT in memory loss treatment is still evolving, studies show it offers a safe, effective way to restore memory function in people who’ve experienced a memory loss due to stroke, injury, or other causes, and potentially as a way to prevent age-related loss from occurring.
During HBOT, you relax in a special chamber that we flood with pure oxygen. The pressure inside the chamber is slightly elevated beyond what you normally experience. Combined, these features help your lungs absorb more oxygen so your body delivers additional oxygen to all your tissues.
Increased oxygen improves cell function and nerve communication, and it also helps reduce inflammation, a major contributor to age-related age loss and dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. HBOT also spurs growth of new blood vessels for better distribution of oxygen and nutrients.
HBOT optimizes cell function and improves oxygen delivery painlessly and noninvasively. Plus, we can use it in combination with other memory therapies for a truly custom treatment plan tailored to your needs.
Learn more about HBOT for memory loss
Memory loss isn’t just about being forgetful. It can cause anxiety and take a toll on your overall well-being, too.