Biohacker and tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson has been known to push the boundaries when it comes to experimenting with longevity. In one of his recent attempts, he turned to hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) — a treatment originally used to support wound healing and treat decompression sickness. Sharing his experience on Instagram, Bryan said, “I spent 5,400 minutes in a pressurised tank, so you don’t have to figure out how hyperbaric oxygen therapy works. It’s a therapy that’s used with elite athletes and stroke patients. But it’s also a cutting-edge therapy for longevity.”
He adds, “You sit in a pressurised chamber, breathing pure oxygen. That extra oxygen may improve healing, boost performance, and may increase longevity. This is what I set out to do — 60 sessions in 90 days. The results were better than I anticipated. Some of the more noteworthy results is that my blood levels came back and showed I had no detectable levels of inflammation, a marker for cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s reduced by 28.6%. My microbiome improved dramatically. My skin health dramatically improved and my telomere lengthened. This may be the most efficacious whole body rejuvenation therapy I’ve ever done.”
But is it really effective for longevity?
Dr Gunasekar Vuppalapati MBBS, MS, FRCSEd, MCh, senior reconstructive, aesthetic plastic surgeon at GVG Invivo Hospitals and Apollo Hospitals, tells indianexpress.com, “Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurised chamber, allowing the extra oxygen to dissolve in the plasma, which is then circulated throughout the body. Practically, this increases the oxygen concentration available to every cell in the body, enhancing tissue repair and supporting healing processes caused by reduced capillary density, peripheral blood perfusion, cellular oxygenation in the end organs such as extremities, kidneys, retina etc.”
When it comes to longevity or broad cellular repair in healthy individuals, he says, the evidence was minimal and largely anecdotal until the year 2020, when prospective trial results were published from Telaviv University, Israel, in the National Library of Medicine. “This breakthrough study titled ‘Hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases telomere length and decreases immunosenescence in isolated blood cells: a prospective trial’ concluded that HBOT may induce significant senolytic effects, including significantly increasing telomere length and clearance of senescent cells in the ageing populations. However, long-term studies are required to determine the extent to which the lifespan and/or healthspan can be extended with HBOT as a supplementary therapy alongside the other regenerative anti-aging measures to slow the aging process,” Dr Vuppalapati notes.
Potential risks or side effects
For otherwise healthy individuals, Dr Vuppalapati says, undergoing 60 sessions of HBOT in just three months is quite intensive. “While HBOT is generally safe when administered under medical supervision, repeated exposure at such frequency can carry certain risks.”
He adds, “Known side effects include ear barotrauma (pressure-related ear pain or injury), sinus discomfort, and temporary vision changes like nearsightedness. Some individuals may experience oxygen toxicity, particularly with prolonged high-dose exposure, which can affect the central nervous system or lungs. However, this is very rare, unless the therapy exceeds the safety limits concerning pressure, the duration, and the necessary weekly breaks prescribed; and if done by unqualified personnel in facilities without a license.”
There’s also a theoretical risk that excessive oxidative stress, he asserts, caused by very high oxygen levels, could lead to cellular damage over time, particularly in someone without a medical need for the therapy. “As clinicians, we always advocate for a measured and medically indicated approach to HBOT rather than overuse without clear benefit,” states the expert.
DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.
