The effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy combined with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on patients with cognitive dysfunction after cerebral infarction

Abstract

Objective To observe the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy combined with repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on patients with cognitive dysfunction after cerebral infarction. Methods A total of 81 patients with cognitive dysfunction after cerebral infarction were randomly divided into a control group, an HBO group and a combined treatment group, each of 27. In addition to basic medication and traditional rehabilitation therapy, the HBO group was also treated with hyperbaric oxygen, while the combined treatment group received both HBO and rTMS. The mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) were administered before and after the four weeks of treatment. Results The average MMSE scores of the HBO and combined treatment groups were both significantly higher than that of the control group, with the former significantly higher than the latter. Moreover, the average MoCA score of the HBO group was also significantly higher than that of the combined treatment group, and both were significantly higher than that of the control group. Conclusion Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can more effectively improve the cognitive function of patients with cognitive dysfunction after the cerebral infarction when it is combined with repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation. Key words: Hyperbaric oxygen; Transcranial magnetic stimulation; Cerebral infarction; Cognitive dysfunction