Administering additional oxygen could help dementia patients suffering from lung disease greatly

A new study published in Experimental Physiology suggests that administering additional oxygen could improve the function of the brain’s blood vessels in dementia patients who are also suffering from lung disease. Research has shown that individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at a higher risk of dementia. Why is that? It could be because of lower brain oxygen levels which result in problems of blood supply from blood vessels in the brain.

This study now proves that oxygen therapy improves cerebral oxygen delivery and neurovascular function in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. This improvement in cerebral oxygen delivery and neurovascular function might provide a physiological link between oxygen therapy and a reduced risk of cerebrovascular diseases such as strokes, dementia and cognitive impairment.

As part of the study, pairing ultrasound measures with a measurement of blood oxygen levels allowed authors to estimate how much oxygen delivery to the brain increased during the reading test. They tested the link between brain activity and blood flow in the brain.

This study does not indicate the influence of long-term oxygen therapy on the function of blood vessels in the brain, as noted by the researchers.