Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Can Induce Angiogenesis and Regeneration of Nerve Fibers in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients

Tal et al.

Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2 ATA 60 sessions

Plain English

Tal et al. (2017, Frontiers in Human Neuroscience) is a Sagol Center cohort study examining whether HBOT can induce cerebral angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation) and regenerate nerve fibers in patients with prolonged post-concussion syndrome from traumatic brain injury. The paper's headline contribution is the imaging-confirmed structural finding: HBOT was associated with measurable improvements in both white and gray matter microstructure, interpreted by the authors as nerve-fiber regeneration. Prior Saturate copy attributed PTSD-focused n=154 DTI findings to this paper — those findings are from a different publication and have been retired here. The bibliographic record is now PubMed-verified; the long-form summary will be rewritten in the next verified-fetch pass. Source: PubMed PMID 29097988.

Key findings

What the trial documented.

HBOT can induce cerebral angiogenesis and improve white and gray microstructures, indicating regeneration of nerve fibers
Findings observed in patients with prolonged post-concussion syndrome from traumatic brain injury
Published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 2017 — see PubMed PMID 29097988 for full abstract

Tal and colleagues used brain microstructure imaging to ask a mechanistic question: can hyperbaric oxygen actually drive new blood-vessel growth and nerve-fiber changes in people with long-standing post-concussion injury?

What the study looked at

Fifteen patients with prolonged post-concussion syndrome (PPCS) from traumatic brain injury received 60 daily HBOT sessions. Imaging used Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast-enhanced (DSC) perfusion and Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) MRI sequences; cognition was assessed with a computerized battery. Treatment began 6 months to 27 years after injury.

What it found

The authors reported imaging changes consistent with angiogenesis (increased cerebral blood flow) and with white- and gray-matter microstructural change, interpreted as nerve-fiber regeneration, alongside cognitive measures.

How strong is the evidence?

A small, uncontrolled imaging study; the structural-imaging findings are mechanistically interesting but not a substitute for controlled clinical-outcome trials. The previous slug labeled this a PTSD study — the verified paper is about TBI/post-concussion patients.

Related on Saturate

See our evidence overview of HBOT for TBI and concussion, HBOT and cognitive performance.

Source

Tal S, et al. (2017). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can induce angiogenesis and regeneration of nerve fibers in TBI patients. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2017.00508 · PubMed

This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy carries genuine clinical risks; consult a qualified clinician. Read our full medical disclaimer.

Protocol used

Per published protocol — see PMID 29097988 for full method

Full citation

Tal et al.. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Can Induce Angiogenesis and Regeneration of Nerve Fibers in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 2017.

DOI →

Medical disclaimer

This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy carries genuine clinical risks; consult a qualified clinician before starting any protocol. Full disclaimer →