Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is one of the safe, alternative therapies the BART Foundation believes may help brain injury survivors. There is ample scientific evidence that HBOT helps injured brains to heal, but how long after injury must HBOT begin before it’s too late to help? Anecdotal cases, such as former NFL players Joe Namath and George Visiger, show that some people make good cognitive gains even decades after injury.
Now, for the first time, there is hard proof that adults who suffered pediatric TBIs can still see robust cognitive gains even decades post-injury. In an article published in the journal Frontiers in Neurology, researchers evaluated the effects of HBOT in adults with longstanding post-concussion syndrome following pediatric TBI. Using objective computerized neurocognitive assessments, they investigated whether a standardized HBOT protocol could induce measurable cognitive improvements in this unique and underserved population. These highly regarded experts in hyperbaric medicine concluded: “These findings suggest that HBOT may induce meaningful neurocognitive improvement even decades after pediatric TBI, supporting its potential role in long-term rehabilitation strategies for this underserved population.”
As supporters and followers of our group may know, our advisory board has been working with TreatNOW.org and other groups to get a bill passed in NYS to fund HBOT for veterans with TBI/PTSD. There are roughly 35,716 veterans in NY who would qualify! The bill is NYS A1869/S1715, which establishes a hyperbaric oxygen therapy pilot program to treat veterans suffering from traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder.
What this means is that even Veterans with TBI/PTSD wounded as long ago as Vietnam can experience healing and improvement in longstanding post-concussion syndrome symptoms. This is a big deal, as improved access to HBOT can improve overall quality of life. If you have questions about HBOT, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We always try our best to provide answers in understandable terms, making accurate, practical information about alternative therapies accessible to survivors, caregivers, and health professionals.
Guidestar Seal of Transparency
