01 / Memory and thinking
Encouraging cognitive findings
A systematic review of clinical trials reported better cognitive test outcomes in groups receiving HBOT. Study quality limits how confidently those results can be applied to an individual.1
Scottsdale & Glendale, Arizona
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for Alzheimer’s disease & memory
When memory changes affect someone you love, it is natural to explore every reasonable avenue of support. Published research reports encouraging changes in cognition and daily-function measures with HBOT. Talk with RX-O2 about what those findings could mean for your family.1, 2
HBOT for Alzheimer’s disease is an emerging, off-label use. A consultation explores its potential role alongside your existing memory care.
Your questions. Your family’s goals.Physician-led hyperbaric care in the Valley.
FDA-cleared chambersHard-shell hyperbaric systems
100% medical oxygenBreathed through a dedicated mask or hood
Physician-led careMedical evaluation before treatment
NHSA-certified techniciansAttentive monitoring throughout your visit
Why families ask about HBOT
Explore the possibilities for memory and everyday life
Researchers are investigating whether oxygen under pressure can add meaningful support to care for cognitive concerns. Three areas help explain the interest.
02 / Everyday function
Looking beyond a test score
A clinical study reported short-term improvements in daily-function measures among people with Alzheimer’s receiving HBOT alongside their usual medicines.2
03 / Brain blood flow
A promising area of investigation
In a small study of older adults with memory concerns, HBOT was followed by improved blood flow in several brain regions and better cognitive scores. Those participants were not an Alzheimer’s treatment group.3
Start with a clear understanding of the diagnosis. Memory changes can have different causes. Bring prior testing, your medication list, and your neurologist’s recommendations so the consultation can focus on your particular situation.7
Published research
What the research offers families today
Literature checked
The clinical findings provide reasons for continued study and an informed consultation. Here is what each publication can tell us about potential benefit.
Clinical evidence review · 2024
Cognition and daily-function outcomes favored HBOT
11 randomized trials · 847 participants with Alzheimer’s disease
The pooled results favored HBOT for cognitive testing and activities-of-daily-living measures. Many studies evaluated HBOT added to other treatment.
All included trials were conducted in China and lacked blinding; allocation concealment was unclear. The favorable results need confirmation in more rigorous trials and do not establish lasting disease modification.
Read the 2024 clinical evidence reviewClinical study · 2020
Short-term cognitive and functional improvements
42 treated Alzheimer’s patients · 11 treated aMCI patients · 30 Alzheimer’s controls
The treated Alzheimer’s group improved on cognitive measures at one month and daily-function measures at one and three months. The small amnestic mild cognitive impairment group also showed some favorable cognitive changes.
This was a nonrandomized study. Alzheimer’s cognitive gains were not sustained at later follow-ups, and the aMCI group lacked its own untreated comparison. The results do not establish prevention of dementia.
Read the 2020 Alzheimer’s and aMCI studyExploratory memory research · 2021
Blood flow and memory in older adults
6 independently living older adults · Before-and-after observations
Following HBOT, the participants had better memory and other cognitive scores, along with increased blood flow in several brain regions.
There was no untreated human control group, and people with pathological cognitive decline were excluded. Alzheimer’s plaque findings in this paper came from its separate mouse experiment, not the six participants.
Read the 2021 blood-flow and memory studyWhat this means for your decision: The findings support exploring HBOT’s potential as an adjunct. They do not yet establish that it reverses Alzheimer’s disease, prevents progression, or reliably restores memory. Your provider can help weigh the possibilities, uncertainty, practical demands, and costs.
The developing science
Newer research into the pathways behind brain health
Laboratory studies examine how HBOT may influence inflammation, cellular recycling, and Alzheimer’s-related changes. These are biological findings to investigate further, not established patient outcomes.
2026: mitochondrial recycling and inflammation in Alzheimer’s-model mice
Yao and colleagues reported improved behavioral testing, reduced amyloid-related pathology, and changes in mitochondrial quality control and microglial activity in 5xFAD mice. The results offer a potential mechanism for further investigation; they do not demonstrate plaque removal or clinical benefit in people. Read the 2026 experimental paper.
2024: cellular recycling and learning in a mouse model
A separate mouse experiment reported better learning and memory-task performance with changes in autophagy-related markers. Autophagy is part of the way cells process and recycle their components. These findings help build a biological rationale, with human confirmation still needed. Read the 2024 autophagy study.
2026: a review of preclinical Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s research
This review examined eight animal studies across Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s models, including three Alzheimer’s studies. The authors reported favorable experimental findings and called for clinical validation. The combined animal results should not be interpreted as a treatment effect in people with Alzheimer’s. Read the 2026 animal-research review.
Find newer Alzheimer’s and memory studies on PubMed · Opens a live search. New results have not necessarily been evaluated for this page.
For patients and care partners
A consultation built around the person you know
You know the routines, conversations, and moments that matter. Share the changes you have noticed and what you hope additional care might help address. Those observations can make the consultation more useful.
- Memory concerns and recent testing
- Changes in daily routines
- Current treatment and medicines
- Comfort, mobility, and caregiver needs
Ask a family member or care partner to join the consultation when appropriate. We can discuss the visit experience, oxygen mask or hood, pressure changes, and the support needed to participate comfortably.
Care stays coordinated. Continue the care recommended by your neurologist or prescribing clinician. If HBOT is appropriate, it should fit alongside that plan. A consultation is not a reason to stop or delay established treatment.
The RX-O2 difference
Your facility matters. So does your team.
From your first questions to each treatment visit, our Scottsdale and Glendale clinics focus on medical oversight, patient education, and attentive care.
Care led by a physician
Medical Director Marvin A. Borsand, DO, FACOS, FACCS, HCC, leads clinical oversight. A licensed medical provider evaluates suitability and prescribes treatment when appropriate.
FDA-cleared hard-shell chambers
Our facilities use prescription-level hyperbaric systems, with chamber selection and treatment settings matched to your prescribed plan.
100% medical-grade oxygen
You breathe oxygen through a dedicated mask or hood while the chamber is pressurized with air. Your technicians monitor you throughout treatment.
NHSA-certified hyperbaric technicians
Our technicians are certified through the National Hyperbaric Safety Association and trained in chamber operations, patient monitoring, and emergency procedures.
Getting started
A clear plan before the first visit
Bring the relevant history
Share the diagnosis, prior cognitive testing or imaging reports, medication list, and your treating provider’s contact details.
Discuss suitability and goals
A licensed medical provider reviews possible benefits, risks, and the ability to participate in chamber treatment. Talk through caregiver and transportation needs.
Set a schedule and reassess
If prescribed, agree on a treatment plan and a point to review response. Discuss meaningful goals, time commitment, and cost before purchasing a package.
Planning repeat visits? Our pricing and packages page lists current options and purchase links. There is no established HBOT session count for Alzheimer’s disease; a research schedule is not a personalized prescription.
Local care, two Valley locations
Explore HBOT in Scottsdale or Glendale
Looking for a hyperbaric consultation near Phoenix? RX-O2 offers two locations for patients across the Valley. Call the clinic closest to you for appointment availability and help planning repeat visits.
RX-O2 Scottsdale
9035 E Pima Center Parkway #11Scottsdale, AZ 85258
An East Valley option for patients in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, and nearby communities.
RX-O2 Glendale
5626 N 51st AvenueGlendale, AZ 85301
A West Valley option for patients in Glendale, Peoria, Phoenix, and nearby communities.
Before your consultation
Questions about HBOT, Alzheimer’s, and memory
Make room for the questions that matter to your family.
Could HBOT be worth discussing for Alzheimer’s disease?
Yes. The published findings provide a basis for discussing an individualized, off-label option. Suitability depends on the diagnosis, health, treatment goals, and ability to participate. The possibility of benefit should be weighed against uncertain durability, risks, cost, and the demands of repeated visits.
Is HBOT approved to treat Alzheimer’s disease?
No. Alzheimer’s is an off-label use. RX-O2 uses FDA-cleared chambers, which describes the equipment; that clearance does not establish approval or effectiveness for treating Alzheimer’s disease.
What if the concern is mild cognitive impairment or memory loss?
Tell us what evaluation has already been completed. Memory loss has several possible causes, and mild cognitive impairment is different from an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. The small aMCI and age-related memory studies should not be treated as proof that HBOT prevents dementia. A medical evaluation helps guide the next step.7
Can a family member or caregiver join the consultation?
Please let the clinic know who will be attending. A care partner can help share history, ask questions, and plan visits, with the patient’s permission or appropriate representative involvement. Discuss any need for assistance during treatment in advance; companion access inside a chamber requires a separate suitability assessment.
How many HBOT sessions would be recommended?
There is no established treatment course for Alzheimer’s disease or memory concerns. Studies used different schedules in different populations. If a licensed provider recommends treatment, ask about goals, reassessment, visit frequency, and cost before committing to a package.
What are the safety considerations?
Medical screening includes lung health, ear and sinus issues, seizure history, medicines, and the ability to tolerate the chamber and breathing equipment. Possible effects include ear-pressure injury, temporary vision changes, and confinement anxiety. Oxygen toxicity and lung pressure injury are less common but serious risks. RX-O2 monitors patients throughout treatment and prohibits electronics and battery-powered devices inside chambers.8, 9
Where can we schedule a consultation near Phoenix?
Choose RX-O2 Scottsdale or Glendale. Book online, call 480-270-6090 for Scottsdale, or call 623-930-0887 for Glendale. Bring your questions and ask about appointment availability and visit planning.
Let’s talk about the next step.
Explore the research with a physician-led team and discuss whether HBOT could complement your family’s care plan.
Sources & further reading
- Lin G et al. (2024). Clinical evidence of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Front Aging Neurosci.
- Chen J et al. (2020). Hyperbaric oxygen ameliorates cognitive impairment in patients with Alzheimer's disease and amnestic mild cognitive impairment. Alzheimers Dement (N Y).
- Shapira R et al. (2021). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy alleviates vascular dysfunction and amyloid burden in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model and in elderly patients. Aging (Albany NY).
- Yao M et al. (2026). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy ameliorates Alzheimer's disease pathology by restoration of mitophagy and suppressing neuroinflammation in 5xFAD mice. Exp Neurol.
- Fan QQ et al. (2024). Enhancement of cognitive function in mice with Alzheimer's disease through hyperbaric oxygen-induced activation of cellular autophagy. Front Aging Neurosci.
- Radhakrishnan A et al. (2026). Neuro-reparative potential of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in animal models of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases: systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurodegener Dis Manag.
- MedlinePlus. Memory loss: causes and medical evaluation.
- FDA (2025). Follow Instructions for Safe Use of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Devices.
- Heyboer M III et al. (2017). Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: Side Effects Defined and Quantified. Advances in Wound Care, 6(6), 210–224.
Six selected research publications inform this discussion; additional sources address memory evaluation and treatment safety. Reviews summarize earlier studies and should not be counted as additional patient trials.
Literature checked September 10, 2026. This records a source check, not an independent physician review or an exhaustive systematic review. For sudden confusion or new stroke-like symptoms, seek urgent medical care rather than waiting for a hyperbaric consultation.