Effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on cognitive function and serum Humanin level in patients with Alzheimer′s disease

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on cognitive function and serum Humanin expression in patients with Alzheimer′s disease (AD). Methods From June 2015 to June 2017, 72 patients with mild to moderate AD admitted to the Neurology of Taian Central Hospital were selected. The patients were divided into control group and HBO treatment group by random number table method, each group with 36 patients. The control group was given conventional treatments and HBO treatment group was treated with HBO based on the conventional treatments, both groups were treated for 2 months. Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scores, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)scores and serum levels of Humanin in the two groups were compared before and after treatment. Results Before treatment, the MMSE score, MoCA score and serum Humanin level of the control group were (15.35±2.12) points, (17.08±2.73) points, (147.2±39.6) ng/L, respectively. The MMSE score, MoCA score and serum Humanin level in the HBO treatment group were (15.29±2.43) points, (17.16±2.61) points, (141.8±41.3) ng/L, respectively, there were no significant differences between the two groups (t=0.11, -0.13, 0.57, all P>0.05). After treatment, the MMSE score, MoCA score and serum Humanin level of the control group were (18.57±3.59)points, (20.46±3.07)points, (180.9±48.1)ng/L, which were lower than those in the HBO treatment group [(20.68±2.97)points, (22.74±3.28)points, (216.5±52.9)ng/L, respectively], the differences were significant (t=-2.72, -3.05, -2.99, all P<0.01). Serum Humanin level was positively correlated with MMSE score (r=0.628, P<0.05), and MoCA score (r=0.691, P<0.05). Conclusion Hyperbaric oxygen can improve the cognitive function of AD patients, and the mechanism may be related to the increased serum levels of Humanin. Key words: Alzheimer disease; Hyperbaric oxygen; Cognition; Humanin