Adaptation to intermittent hypoxia-hyperoxia improves cognitive performance and exercise tolerance in the elderly

To maintain physical performance and cognitive functions in the elderly, multimodal training programs (MTP) are used, which are based on physical training, physiotherapy procedures, psychological training, etc. To increase the efficiency of MTP in the elderly, it is suggested to apply a new variant of adaptation to interval normobaric hypoxia, interval hypoxic-hyperoxic training (IHHT). A placebo-controlled clinical trial included 34 patients aged 64–92 years of the day geriatric hospital of the Klagenfurt Clinic (Carinthia, Austria) who were randomized into two groups: experimental (EG), those who received MTP and IHHT, and control (CG), those who passed the course of MTP during the simulation of IHHT procedures. Before and after the rehabilitation course, cognitive functions and exercise endurance of the patients were evaluated using the dementia detection test DemTect, the clock-drawing test, and a 6-minute walk test (6MWT). During the course of IHHT, cognitive capabilities of EG patients significantly improved in comparison with CG patients: the increase in values in the dementia test was +16.7% (in CG +0.39%, p < 0.001), and that in the clock-drawing test was +10.7% (in CG–8%, p = 0.031). The distance covered in the 6-minute test increased in both the groups but significantly more in OG, 24.1% (in CG +10.8%, p = 0.021). Direct significant correlations between increment in exercise tolerance and cognitive tests were revealed. Thus, the inclusion of procedures for adaptation to interval hypoxia-hyperoxia in MTP in the elderly leads to a significant increase in their effectiveness, which is manifested in the improvement of cognitive functions and physical endurance. IHHT procedures are well tolerated and do not cause side effects.