Intermittent hypoxic-hyperoxic training on cognitive performance in geriatric patients

Urike Bayer; Rudolf Likar; Georg Pinter; Haro Stettner; Susanne Demschar; Brigitte Trummer; Stefan Neuwersch; Oleg Glazachev; Martin Burtscher

doi:10.1016/j.trci.2017.01.002

Intermittent hypoxic-hyperoxic training on cognitive performance in geriatric patients

Alzheimers Dement (N Y). 2017 Feb 8;3(1):114-122. doi: 10.1016/j.trci.2017.01.002. eCollection 2017 Jan.

Authors

Urike Bayer¹, Rudolf Likar², Georg Pinter¹, Haro Stettner³, Susanne Demschar², Brigitte Trummer², Stefan Neuwersch², Oleg Glazachev⁴, Martin Burtscher⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Geriatrics, Klinikum Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt, Austria.
² Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Klinikum Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt, Austria.
³ Department of Statistics, Alpen-Adria University Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt, Austria.
⁴ Research Centre, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia.
⁵ Department of Sport Science, Medical Section, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.

Abstract

Introduction: Intermittent hypoxic-hyperoxic training (IHHT) may complement a multimodal training intervention (MTI) for improving cognitive function and exercise tolerance in geriatric patients.

Methods: Thirty-four patients (64-92 years) participated in this randomized controlled trial. Before and after the 5- to 7-week intervention period (MTI + IHHT vs. MTI + ambient air), cognitive function was assessed by the Dementia-Detection Test (DemTect) and the Sunderland Clock-Drawing Test (CDT), and functional exercise capacity by the total distance of the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT).

Results: DemTect and CDT indicated significantly larger improvements after MTI + IHHT (+16.7% vs. -0.39%, P < .001) and (+10.7% vs. -8%, P = .031) which was also true for the 6MWT (+24.1% vs. +10.8%, P = .021).

Discussion: IHHT turned out to be easily applicable to and well tolerated by geriatric patients up to 92 years. IHHT contributed significantly to improvements in cognitive function and functional exercise capacity in geriatric patients performing MTI.

Keywords: Cognitive performance; Dementia; Exercise tolerance; Geriatric patients; Intermittent hypoxia; Multimodal training.