What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and How Does It Help With Brain Health?

Last Updated: November 2025

In this FAQ, Dr. Jessica Knape of HealthSpan Internal Medicine in Boulder, CO, explains how hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) can support brain repair and cognitive health by increasing oxygen delivery to healing tissues. Used alongside the ReCODE Protocol and personalized metabolic and genomic care, HBOT serves as a complementary tool in a comprehensive approach to cognitive decline.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a medical treatment where a person breathes 100% oxygen inside a pressurized chamber. This increased pressure allows significantly more oxygen to dissolve into the bloodstream and reach tissues that may be damaged, inflamed, or receiving poor blood flow. While HBOT is commonly known for treating wounds, carbon monoxide poisoning, or diving injuries, growing evidence shows that it may also support brain repair, neuroplasticity, and cognitive health.

At HealthSpan Internal Medicine in Boulder, CO, I (Dr. Jessica Knape) use HBOT as part of a comprehensive, root-cause approach for patients with cognitive decline. HBOT is not a standalone cure, but it can be a powerful tool when used in combination with the ReCODE Protocol, genomics, metabolic repair, toxin reduction, and lifestyle interventions.

Here’s what HBOT is, how it works, and why it may help the brain heal.

Summary

• HBOT delivers high levels of oxygen to the brain, supporting healing and reducing inflammation.

• It improves blood flow, increases mitochondrial energy, and stimulates neuroplasticity.

• Research shows benefits for cognitive decline, post-TBI recovery, long-COVID brain fog, vascular dementia, and chronic inflammation.

• HBOT can support stem cell activity and tissue repair.

• It’s generally safe but requires screening for contraindications.

• Works best as part of a comprehensive, personalized brain-health plan like ReCODE.

Key Points

• HBOT increases oxygen delivery to underperfused or inflamed brain regions.

• Promotes neuroplasticity, angiogenesis, and repair.

• Reduces neuroinflammation and oxidative stress.

• Helps with TBI, memory issues, brain fog, and metabolic/vascular cognitive decline.

• Personalized genomics (IntellxxDNA) enhances safety and targeting.

• Not a cure—best used as part of ReCODE and whole-person care.

What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves sitting or lying inside a pressurized chamber while breathing pure oxygen. The treatment typically lasts 60–90 minutes. During the session, air pressure in the chamber is increased to 1.5–2.0 ATA (atmospheres absolute), allowing oxygen to dissolve at a much higher concentration into the blood plasma.

Under normal conditions, oxygen travels bound to red blood cells. Under hyperbaric pressure, oxygen also dissolves directly into the plasma—allowing it to reach tissues where blood flow may be reduced due to injury, inflammation, vascular disease, or metabolic dysfunction.

HBOT is FDA-approved for several conditions and increasingly studied for neurological and cognitive disorders.

How HBOT Helps the Brain: Key Mechanisms

HBOT supports brain healing through several well-documented biological mechanisms.

1. Increases Oxygen Delivery to Hypoxic or Injured Brain Regions

Many cognitive issues—especially those related to aging, vascular disease, trauma, and long-standing inflammation—stem from reduced oxygen availability, or “hypoxia.”

HBOT increases oxygen delivery by:

• Boosting plasma oxygen levels

• Improving oxygen diffusion into tissues

• Supporting damaged microcirculation

Research from Tel Aviv University shows that HBOT can improve cerebral blood flow and cognitive performance in older adults.

Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8423449/

2. Supports Neuroplasticity and Cognitive Recovery

HBOT stimulates the brain’s ability to grow new neural connections, a process known as neuroplasticity.

Studies show HBOT can:

• Improve memory

• Enhance information processing

• Strengthen attention and executive function

• Support recovery after brain injury

3. Reduces Neuroinflammation

Chronic inflammation disrupts brain signaling and contributes to Alzheimer’s, brain fog, long-COVID, and mood disorders. HBOT has strong anti-inflammatory effects:

• Lowers inflammatory cytokines

• Reduces microglial overactivation

• Supports antioxidant pathways

• Improves gut–brain and immune–brain signaling

4. Enhances Mitochondrial Function

Mitochondria produce the energy (ATP) that neurons rely on. Oxygen is the final electron acceptor in ATP production, and HBOT significantly increases oxygen availability.

HBOT may:

• Improve energy metabolism

• Support cognitive clarity

• Enhance resilience to oxidative stress

• Improve fatigue associated with long-COVID

5. Stimulates Angiogenesis (New Blood Vessel Formation)

HBOT triggers controlled oxidative stress that stimulates growth factors such as VEGF, which promote angiogenesis.

This may:

• Improve blood flow to damaged brain regions

• Support long-term cognitive repair

• Beneficial especially in vascular cognitive impairment

6. Increases Stem Cell Activity and Tissue Repair

Hyperbaric oxygen increases circulating stem cells, enhancing tissue regeneration.

This can support recovery from:

• Traumatic brain injury

• Stroke

• Chronic inflammation

• Long-term cognitive decline

How HBOT Helps With Cognitive Decline

Based on current research, HBOT appears most helpful for people with:

• Mild cognitive impairment (MCI)

• Vascular dementia

• Post-inflammatory cognitive decline

• Post-TBI cognitive issues

• Long-COVID brain fog

• Toxic or metabolic contributors to cognitive decline

In the Alzheimer’s field, HBOT may support:

• Better oxygenation of at-risk brain regions

• Reduced inflammation

• Improved neuronal energy production

• Enhanced neuroplasticity

• Vascular repair

When combined with the ReCODE Protocol, HBOT can accelerate improvement by supporting the metabolic and vascular pathways critical for brain repair.

How HBOT Fits Into ReCODE and Precision Medicine

At HealthSpan Internal Medicine, HBOT is integrated into a comprehensive brain-health plan based on:

• Advanced labs

• IntellxxDNA genomics

• Hormone evaluation

• Toxin and inflammation testing

• Vascular assessments

• Sleep optimization

• Personalized nutrition

• Mitochondrial support

• Cognitive training

HBOT amplifies the work already being done in these systems.

Safety Considerations and Who Should Avoid HBOT

HBOT is generally safe but not appropriate for everyone.

Contraindications include:

• Untreated pneumothorax

• Certain types of ear or sinus issues

• Recent chest trauma

• Some chemotherapy medications

• Severe COPD with CO₂ retention

Relative contraindications (require careful evaluation):

• Upper respiratory infections

• Eustachian tube dysfunction

• Seizure disorders

• Claustrophobia

A thorough medical evaluation is essential before beginning therapy.

What Patients Typically Experience

Many patients report:

• Clearer thinking

• Better energy

• Improved mood

• Sharper memory

• Faster processing

• Better sleep

Multiple sessions (20–60) are usually needed for sustained benefit.

Curious if HBOT could support your brain recovery or cognitive health?
Schedule a Brain Repair & HBOT Discovery Call with Dr. Knape to determine whether hyperbaric therapy fits into your personalized BrainSpan or recovery plan.
👉 Book your Discovery Call today

Sources

🧠 HBOT Improves Cognitive Function After Brain Injury

Boussi-Gross R et al., Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 2013 — PMC
In a controlled trial, HBOT significantly improved memory, attention, and executive function in patients with chronic traumatic brain injury. Demonstrates neuroplasticity and perfusion benefits even years after injury.
Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3671351/

🩸 HBOT Increases Brain Blood Flow and Neuroplasticity

Harch PG et al., Medical Gas Research, 2017 — PMC
Shows that HBOT enhances cerebral perfusion, reduces inflammation, and promotes neurogenesis. Especially relevant for patients recovering from concussion, stroke, and neuroinflammatory conditions.
Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5382375/

🔥 HBOT Reduces Neuroinflammation and Oxidative Stress

Zhang Q et al., International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2014 — PMC
Demonstrates how HBOT modulates inflammatory cytokines, reduces oxidative stress, and improves mitochondrial function — key mechanisms for brain repair.
Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4231473/

🧬 Hyperbaric Oxygen as a Treatment for Neurodegenerative Disorders

Vishwanath O et al., Neurochemical Research, 2022 — PMC
A review showing HBOT’s potential benefits for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other neurodegenerative conditions through angiogenesis, stem-cell activation, and metabolic optimization.
Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9181772/

⚡ HBOT Improves Cognitive Symptoms in Post-COVID and Post-Inflammatory Brain Dysfunction

Zilberman-Itskovich S et al., Scientific Reports, 2022 — PMC
HBOT improved brain fog, attention, and global cognition in patients with post-COVID cognitive impairment. Provides strong evidence for HBOT’s role in reducing neuroinflammation and restoring brain network integrity.
Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8891705/

Medically reviewed by
Dr. Jessica Knape, MD, MA Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Integrative and Holistic Medicine
Healthspan Internal Medicine — serving patients in Boulder, CO

Book a Discovery Call | About Dr. Knape

This content is for educational purposes and does not replace personalized medical advice.