Characterized by the progressive loss of physiological capacity resulting in impaired functioning and susceptibility to diseases, the biological aging process at a cellular level has two key hallmark elements: telomere length (TL) shortening and cellular senescence. A variety of therapeutic methods aimed at reversing or slowing down this process continues to be investigated while a novel treatment shows promise – a specialized form of oxygen therapy that may be able to reverse the aforementioned biological markers of aging.
In a new small study published in the Journal of Aging, researchers present potential breakthrough findings. Per their results, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) may be an effective method for delaying or even reversing cellular degeneration as it was shown to lengthen telomeres and decrease levels of senescent cells, potentially helping prevent age-related illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, and dementia.