What is HBOT?
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
HBOT increases dissolved oxygen in your bloodstream to support cellular repair. Evidence suggests it can enhance healthspan by improving cellular function, with emerging research on longevity markers.
HBOT & Healthspan
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) shows potential for increasing healthspan by reversing biological age markers, including increasing telomere length and clearing senescent cells, which can lead to improved cognitive function and cellular efficiency. While research on extending human lifespan is ongoing, HBOT's current focus and proven benefits are more clearly established in enhancing healthspan by improving cellular health and function.
How HBOT Addresses Aging at a Cellular Level
- Increases Telomere Length: Telomeres, protective caps on chromosomes, shorten with age. A study found that HBOT significantly increased telomere length in T-helper, T-cytotoxic, natural killer, and B cells, effectively counteracting a key aging biomarker.
- Clears Senescent Cells: Senescent cells are “zombie” cells that accumulate with age and contribute to inflammation. HBOT has been shown to reduce the percentage of senescent T-helper and T-cytotoxic cells, promoting a healthier cellular environment.
- Stimulates Growth Factors & Stem Cells: HBOT protocols that involve fluctuating oxygen levels trigger the release of growth factors and stimulate stem cell proliferation, leading to new blood vessel and cell growth.
Benefits for Healthspan
- Improved Cognitive Function: HBOT can enhance cognitive functions like attention, memory, and processing speed.
- Enhanced Skin Health: By promoting collagen and elastin production, HBOT can improve skin elasticity, reduce wrinkles, and diminish scarring.
- Reduced Inflammation: HBOT may protect tissues from chronic inflammatory damage, a common feature of aging.
- Increased Cell Efficiency: By improving oxygen utilization and promoting cell growth, HBOT increases muscle and cell efficiency throughout the body.
Impact on Lifespan
While HBOT has shown remarkable results in reversing aging at a cellular level, research is still ongoing to determine its full impact on human lifespan. Current evidence suggests that HBOT's main contribution is to enhance healthspan—the years lived in good health—rather than directly extending the number of years lived.
