Brain rebooted with oxygen representing hyperbaric oxygen therapy for stroke recovery.

Reboot Your Brain After Stroke: Could Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Be the Key?

Mira Elwood in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"New research explores how hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) might help improve cognitive function, mobility, and quality of life for stroke survivors."

Stroke affects nearly 800,000 Americans yearly, often leading to lasting disability. While initial recovery is possible, many survivors require ongoing assistance due to persistent functional impairments. Excitingly, research is focusing on the regions surrounding the primary site of damage, aiming to rescue at-risk but not irreparably damaged neurons. The goal? To salvage these neurons and promote functional recovery.

One promising avenue of exploration is hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). HBOT involves breathing 100% oxygen at a pressure higher than normal atmospheric pressure. This approach has been considered as a potential stroke treatment for decades, with the intention of revitalizing inactive neurons, and increased blood flow and oxygen delivery.

A recent study published in Neurology Research International investigated the effects of HBOT on physical and cognitive impairments resulting from ischemic stroke. This article breaks down the study's findings and explores what it could mean for stroke recovery.

Can HBOT Really Make a Difference After Stroke?

Brain rebooted with oxygen representing hyperbaric oxygen therapy for stroke recovery.

The study, conducted at Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare, used a within-subject design. This means each participant served as their own control, with their baseline functional abilities established over a three-month period before starting HBOT.

Seven participants, all of whom had experienced an ischemic stroke at least 12 months prior and had some functional impairments, underwent two four-week periods of HBOT. Each session involved breathing 100% oxygen at 2.0 ATA (Atmospheres Absolute) for 60 minutes, five days a week, totaling 40 treatments over 12 weeks. Researchers conducted a battery of tests assessing cognitive, physical, speech and quality of life measures. They assessed their health for any issues or potential complications.

Cognitive Function: Improvements were seen in both verbal and nonverbal memory, as measured by the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) and Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS).
Physical Abilities: Participants showed improved gait velocity and upper extremity function, as indicated by the Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer (UEFM) assessment.
Quality of Life: Participants self-reported better sleep and overall recovery, based on the Stroke Impact Scale (SIS).
Biomarkers: Changes were observed in serum levels of NSE, TNF-alpha, and IL-6, suggesting an impact on neural and inflammatory processes.

Importantly, the improvements observed in cognitive and physical functions were maintained up to three months after the last HBOT treatment. While biomarker changes were more transient, the sustained functional improvements suggest a lasting impact on neural pathways.

The Future of HBOT in Stroke Rehabilitation

This study adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting HBOT may be a valuable intervention for stroke survivors. The findings support the idea that HBOT can improve cognitive and physical functions, as well as quality of life, even in the chronic stages of recovery.

While the study's limitations, including a small sample size and lack of blinding, call for further research, the results are encouraging. Larger, controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings and to better understand the optimal HBOT protocols, identify which patients are most likely to benefit, and determine the long-term effects of treatment.

If you're a stroke survivor struggling with persistent impairments, talk to your doctor about whether HBOT might be a suitable option for you. This therapy could offer a new path toward reclaiming lost function and improving your overall well-being.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1155/2018/3172679, Alternate LINK

Title: The Effect Of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy On Functional Impairments Caused By Ischemic Stroke

Subject: Neurology (clinical)

Journal: Neurology Research International

Publisher: Hindawi Limited

Authors: Emily R. Rosario, Stephanie E. Kaplan, Sepehr Khonsari, Garrett Vazquez, Niyant Solanki, Melanie Lane, Hiriam Brownell, Sheila S. Rosenberg

Published: 2018-10-09

Everything You Need To Know

What exactly is hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), and how does it work to aid stroke recovery?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) involves breathing 100% oxygen at a pressure higher than normal atmospheric pressure. In the context of stroke recovery, HBOT is used to revitalize inactive neurons and increase blood flow and oxygen delivery to damaged brain tissue. By increasing oxygen levels in the brain, HBOT aims to salvage at-risk neurons surrounding the primary site of damage and promote functional recovery.

What specific improvements were observed in stroke patients who underwent hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in the study?

The research indicated improvements in several key areas. Participants showed enhancements in verbal and nonverbal memory, as measured by the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) and Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS). They also experienced improved gait velocity and upper extremity function, as indicated by the Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer (UEFM) assessment. Additionally, participants self-reported better sleep and overall recovery, based on the Stroke Impact Scale (SIS).

Did hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) affect biological markers, and what do changes in NSE, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 suggest about the therapy's impact?

The study showed changes in serum levels of NSE, TNF-alpha, and IL-6. These biomarkers suggest that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has an impact on neural and inflammatory processes in the body. While the biomarker changes were more transient, the improvements observed in cognitive and physical functions were maintained up to three months after the last HBOT treatment, suggesting a lasting impact on neural pathways.

Who were the participants in this study, and what does their condition suggest about the potential of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for stroke recovery?

The study focused on individuals who had experienced an ischemic stroke at least 12 months prior and had some functional impairments. This is significant because it suggests that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) may be effective even in the chronic stages of stroke recovery. It is important to note that this study utilized a small sample size of seven participants. More extensive research would further validate the effectiveness of this therapy across diverse patient profiles.

What does a 'within-subject design' mean for this particular study on hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), and why is it important?

A within-subject design means that each participant serves as their own control. Baseline functional abilities were established over a three-month period before starting hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). By comparing each participant's performance before and after HBOT, researchers could more accurately assess the therapy's impact, minimizing the influence of individual variability. This approach strengthens the reliability of the study's findings, but more studies could be done with randomized control groups.