Mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves sleep quality and cognitive performance in healthy young adults at high altitude
In a randomized controlled trial of 60 healthy young males residing at 4300 m for at least six months, 5 days of mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy (mHBOT) significantly reduced PSQI scores compared to control (adjusted mean difference = -1.08, 95% CI: -1.76 to -0.46, p = 0.003). The mHBOT group also showed significantly higher accuracy on a working memory task and altered brain activation patterns in the superior temporal gyrus, suggesting improved neurocognitive efficiency.
Evidence Score
Study Evidence
Study 1. A Randomized Controlled Trial of Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on Cognitive Performance and Sleep Quality in Healthy Young Adults at High Altitude: Exploratory Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy study.
observationalLin YX, Li D, Huang Z, Huang N, Shi SM, Xu F, Wu SZ, Chen L, Huang C · Travel medicine and infectious disease (2026)
Result:
Mechanism Graph
Limitations
- ⚠Only male participants were included, limiting generalizability to females
- ⚠Short intervention duration (5 days) and lack of long-term follow-up data
Frequently Asked Questions
What is mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy (mHBOT)?▼
mHBOT involves breathing oxygen at slightly elevated atmospheric pressure, typically in a mild hyperbaric chamber, to increase oxygen delivery to tissues.
How was sleep quality measured in this study?▼
Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), a self-reported questionnaire measuring sleep disturbances over the past month.
Did mHBOT affect brain activity during cognitive tasks?▼
Yes, fNIRS showed decreased oxygenated hemoglobin in the superior temporal gyrus during working memory tasks after mHBOT, suggesting more efficient brain activation.
Who were the participants in this trial?▼
The study included 60 healthy young male adults who had lived at 4300 meters altitude for at least six months.
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References
- 1.Lin YX, Li D, Huang Z, Huang N, Shi SM, Xu F, Wu SZ, Chen L, Huang C. "A Randomized Controlled Trial of Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on Cognitive Performance and Sleep Quality in Healthy Young Adults at High Altitude: Exploratory Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy study.." Travel medicine and infectious disease, 2026. PMID: 42480892 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2026.103008