Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Autism

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with its conclusive diagnosis made within 2 years of age. Children with the autism spectrum disorder face numerous challenges every day in the form of issues with cognition, communication, and interpersonal relations. Oftentimes, motor problems and gastrointestinal issues might also occur in children with autism. Besides therapies like physiotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and speech therapy, hyperbaric oxygenation can also help in enhancing improvement for the child.

What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Autism?

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy or HBOT, is a treatment model where an autism spectrum disorder patient is enclosed in an oxygen chamber. The pressure in this chamber is greater than one atmosphere. The medical expert needs to regulate both the enclosed chamber and the necessary pressure. The autism patient sits in the chamber to relax, take a nap or watch some video, while hyperbaric oxygen diffuses throughout the body, even into damaged tissues. Pressurized oxygen expands restricted capillaries and blood vessels in the body, heals the brain by activating idling neurons, and improves cognition, attention and communication besides reducing hyperactivity. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy also improves muscle tone as pressurized oxygen increases muscle mass.

Rationale Behind Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Oxygen is an integral component of the biological system, contributing significantly to tissue health. It is vital for energy generation in cells. The lack of oxygen triggers several signaling pathways that can cause cell death. The diffusion of oxygen from air to lungs, lungs to blood, and finally into cells requires a pressure gradient. Oxygen diffuses from high-pressure to low-pressure systems to create an equilibrium. Generally, a normal atmospheric pressure of 1 atm is available for oxygen to diffuse into the lungs. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases this atmospheric pressure in the chamber, thus increasing the pressure gradient between chamber air and lungs. Therefore, more oxygen diffuses into the lungs to maintain balance. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, thus, avails pure 100% oxygen, which increments the blood supply of oxygen into tissues.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Randomized Clinical trials

Here are some publications that you can check to know more about hyperbaric oxygen therapy clinical trials and research for autism:

• Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Autistic Children: A Pilot Study
• Randomized Trial of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Children with Autism
• Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment in Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Hyperbaric Oxygen in the Treatment of Childhood Autism: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Autism?

Children taking up hyperbaric oxygen therapy usually experience no pain or major after effects. In children with autism, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be used to tackle:

Cerebral hypoperfusion

Autism patients are often diagnosed with cerebral hypoperfusion, which means insufficient blood flow in brain. Certain autistic behaviors like repetitive behaviors, impairments in processing expressions and emotions, are often correlated with cerebral hypoperfusion. Studies have shown that hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help in improving the condition of cerebral hypoperfusion in patients.

Inflammation

Recent studies have shown that many individuals with ASD suffer neuroinflammation, immune dysregulation and/or gastrointestinal inflammation.

HBOT has been shown to produce anti-inflammatory properties. According to Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment in Autism Spectrum Disorders, a “child with ASD who had significant eczema and bowel inflammation with abdominal distension had resolution of eczema, chronic diarrhea and abdominal distension with HBOT.”

Behavioral Issues 

Behavioral problems are quite relevant in case of children with autism spectrum disorder and several case studies have shown that hyperbaric oxygen therapy for autism show improvement in behavior, memory, social interaction, verbalizations and cognitive functioning.

 Mitochondrial Function

Mitochondrial dysfunction is also one of the underlying pathologies of ASD. Mitochondria utilize oxygen in an energy-generating electron transport chain in cells. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has demonstrated improvements in mitochondrial function, increasing the electron transport chains and elevating the levels of mitochondria. As a result, mitochondria work more efficiently, and cells face less oxidative stress, one of the causative factors of cell death and neuronal loss.

Conclusion

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps children gain more health improvements when pursued with other therapies like physiotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and stem cell therapy for autism. At Advancells, we care for your children and encourage parents to take a step forward into the world of autism care. Contact us today at info@advancells.com to learn more.

FAQs

Q: What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases the pressure gradient between the atmosphere between air and lungs to increase the oxygen diffusion into the lungs and finally to tissues.

Q: What are the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy?

It elevates the blood flow to the brain, reduces inflammation, enhances mitochondria function, and alleviates oxidative stress.

Q: What are the outcomes of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in autistic patients?

The therapy boosts mental capacity and improves behavior, social interaction, cognitive abilities, memory, etc.

Q: Is hyperbaric oxygen therapy alone sufficient?

This therapy is employed in conjunction with other therapies, such as behavioral therapy, speech therapy, and stem cell therapy, to achieve overall functional improvement.