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The study aimed to investigate whether inhaling hydrogen gas could improve neurocognitive impairment caused by chronic intermittent hypoxia (lack of oxygen) (CIH), a condition commonly associated with obstructive sleep apnea.
Male adult rats were exposed to CIH for 5 weeks, with some groups receiving additional inhalation of hydrogen gas for 2 hours each day. Various tests, including the Morris Water Maze (MWM) test, were conducted to assess spatial memory and learning.
Inhaling hydrogen gas improved spatial learning and memory impairments caused by CIH.
Hydrogen gas reduced oxidative stress levels in the hippocampus, as evidenced by decreased lipid peroxidation and increased antioxidant enzyme activity.
Hydrogen gas increased the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins and inhibited neuronal apoptosis (cell death) in the hippocampus.
The findings suggest that inhaling hydrogen gas could be a potential therapeutic approach for treating neurocognitive impairments associated with conditions like obstructive sleep apnea, by reducing oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis in the brain.
This study highlights the neuroprotective effects of hydrogen gas and its potential use in treating cognitive dysfunction in conditions like obstructive sleep apnea, offering new avenues for clinical interventions and therapeutic strategies.
