Hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases telomere length and decreases immunosenescence in isolated blood cells

Researchers studied 35 healthy adults aged 64 and older. The participants received 60 sessions in a chamber where they breathed pure oxygen under increased pressure. The researchers examined blood cells before and after treatment. Telomeres, protective caps on the ends of DNA, became longer in several types of immune cells. The number of senescent cells, immune cells showing signs of age-related decline, also fell, but the study did not show that participants lived longer or became healthier.

What this means for you: This is not enough evidence to buy hyperbaric oxygen therapy for anti-aging purposes. The study was small, had no comparable untreated group, and measured cell changes rather than meaningful health improvements.