METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MODIFYING COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE

Abstract

The present disclosure concerns methods and systems for improving cognitive performance. More specifically, the disclosure concerns methods and systems for cognitive training under hyperbaric conditions.

Claims

1. A method of modifying cognitive performance of a subject, the method comprising treating said subject by one or more treatment cycles, each treatment cycle comprises exposing said subject to hyperbaric conditions and oxygen rich environment, and carrying out at least one cognitive training task during said exposure.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising at least 2 treatment cycles.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising between 5 and 120 cycles.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein treatment conditions are the same in each treatment cycle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the treatment conditions differ from treatment cycle to treatment cycle.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising assessing cognitive performance of the subject before said exposure to obtain a first score, assessing cognitive performance of said subject after said exposure to obtain a second score, and comparing said first score and second score to obtain an evaluation score of the subject.

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said evaluation score for a given treatment cycle determines the treatment conditions in one or more subsequent treatment cycles.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said hyperbaric conditions comprise exposing the subject to a pressure of between about 1.1 absolute atmospheres (ATA) and about 3.2 ATA.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said oxygen rich environment comprises between about 22 vol % and about 100 vol % oxygen.

12. (canceled)

13. The method of claim 1, wherein each treatment cycle comprises a total time of exposure to said oxygen rich environment of between about 1 minute and about 240 minutes.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein exposure to said oxygen rich environment is carried out intermittently during defined time periods, with intervals of administration of lower oxygen levels in between said defined time periods.

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising a compression stage before said treatment cycle.

18. (canceled)

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising a decompression stage after said treatment cycle.

20. (canceled)

21. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one cognitive training task is one or more tasks selected from the group consisting of verbal memory task, nonverbal memory task, immediate memory task, delayed memory task, information processing speed task, attention task, executive function task, motoric task, visual perception task, multi-tasking assignment, visual spatial task, verbal task, navigational task, intelligence task, working memory task, task switching, response inhibition task, psychomotor speed task, verbal functions task (fluency/naming/vocabulary), response time, double decision, sustained attention, divided attention, selective attention, working memory, long term memory, reasoning, auditory processing, and combinations thereof.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein said treatment cycle further comprises at least one physical training task carried out under said hyperbaric conditions and oxygen rich environment.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject has a history of brain injury.

24. (canceled)

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject suffers from a neurodegenerative disease, dementia, or mild cognitive impairment.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject suffers from aging-related cognitive functional decline.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject suffers from cerebral palsy.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject suffers from abnormal development.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject is a healthy subject.

30-40. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0065] In order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0066] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a system suitable for carrying out the methods described herein according to an embodiment of this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0067] In the following description the invention will be illustrated with some details in reference to specific embodiments of a system for carrying out the methods described herein. This illustration is exemplary and non-limiting of the disclosure in its full scope as described.

[0068] Referring to FIG. 1, shown is a schematic representation of an exemplary system of this disclosure. System 100 includes a hyperbaric chamber 102, comprising a plurality of stations 104 (three (3) stations in this specific, non-limiting, example). Each of stations 104 is configured to accommodate a subject to be treated. The stations may, for example, be sitting, standing or laying locations, that once accommodating the subject, permit exposing the subject to hyperbaric conditions and permit the subject to carry out at least one cognitive training task. Each station 104 also comprises means (not shown) for providing the subject with oxygen rich environment (i.e. atmosphere with an oxygen concentration higher than 21 vol %); such means may, for example, be oxygen masks, hoods, cannulas, etc. The oxygen supplying means are connected via supply line 109 to a controllable oxygen source 108, thus permitting control of the oxygen level, duration of exposure, oxygen exposure profile/regimen, etc. for each of the stations 104, either collectively or independently of one another. In some configurations, the system further provides an air source 110, that is linked to each of the stations via supply line 111, permitting exposure of the subjects to air atmosphere (i.e. unpressurized air of about 21 vol % oxygen) in between oxygen-rich atmosphere exposure periods, depending on the treatment regimen required.

[0069] Each station 104 is associated with at least one means of cognitive training 106, permitting the subject to carry out at least one cognitive training task. In the case of electronic/digital training means, the cognitive training means 106 may be linked to a control system 112 via line 113 (which may be wired or wireless). Control system 112 can provide and operate the cognitive training assignments for each subject, as well as collect data from the subject and, at times, also analyze the data received from the subject in order to tailor the cognitive training task to be carried out by the subject.

[0070] As noted, although not shown in FIG. 1, the system may comprise further functionalities, such as monitor units, entertainment modules, physical training means, etc. Although the system is shown, in this specific example, to include one hyperbaric chamber, it is contemplated within the scope of the present disclosure that the system may comprise a plurality of interlinked chambers or sub-chambers, permitting free transition of subjects therebetween, while maintaining hyperbaric conditions in the system. Each such sub-chamber may, for example, be dedicated to a different type of training or activity to be carried out under hyperbaric and oxygen-rich conditions.

EXAMPLES

Example 1: Cognitive Training Comparative Protocol 1

[0071] Cognitive training is carried out during hyperbaric, rich oxygen environment exposure for the purpose of cognitive capabilities improvement and/or enhancement. The synergistic effect of cognitive training carried out during hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is assessed as compared to cognitive training between HBOT sessions and without HBOT.

[0072] Subjects undergoing the treatment are patients with aging related functional decline, age 60-74. Subjects' screening (inclusion criteria)—at least 1 standard deviation (SD) below average in at least one cognitive domain, as measured using a computerized cognitive assessment (for example Neurotrax or any other suitable assessment tool).

[0073] Three groups are tested, each group including 10 patients, according to the following grouping: [0074] 1. Group 1: HBOT with cognitive training intra-chamber (60 daily cycles, i.e. 1 cycle per day for up to 60 days) [0075] 2. Group 2 (control 1): HBOT with cognitive training tasks outside the chamber (60 daily cycles) [0076] 3. Group 3 (control 2): Cognitive training tasks only (60 daily cycles)

Treatment Parameters:

[0077] Pressure in chamber: 2 ATA [0078] Oxygen level: 100% [0079] Total time: 120 minutes per treatment cycle [0080] Oxygen net time: 90 minutes per cycle [0081] Administration of oxygen rich environment by mask [0082] Total number of cycles: 60 [0083] Number of cycles per week: 5 [0084] Decompression rate: 1 m/min [0085] Compression rate: 1 m/min [0086] Air breaks: 5 minutes air break (21% oxygen) between every 20 minutes of rich-oxygen environment administration [0087] Duration of cognitive training task: 25 minutes per cycle

Cognitive Training

[0088] At least one cognitive task selected from (however not limited to): [0089] memory (verbal, nonverbal, immediate, delayed) [0090] information processing speed [0091] attention [0092] executive function [0093] motor [0094] visual perception [0095] multi-tasking [0096] navigation [0097] intelligence [0098] working memory [0099] task switching [0100] response inhibition [0101] psychomotor speed [0102] verbal functions (fluency/naming/vocabulary) [0103] response time [0104] double decision [0105] sustained attention [0106] divided attention [0107] selective attention [0108] reasoning [0109] auditory processing

[0110] A memory score and/or information processing speed score are determined before and after treatment cycles by cognitive assessment tools (e.g. Neurotrax, BrainHQ or any other suitable assessment tool).

Example 2: Cognitive Training Comparative Protocol 2

[0111] Cognitive training is carried out during hyperbaric, rich oxygen environment exposure for the purpose of cognitive capabilities improvement and/or enhancement. The synergistic effect of cognitive training carried out during hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is assessed as compared to cognitive training between HBOT sessions and without HBOT.

[0112] Subjects undergoing the treatment are patients with brain injury (stroke/TBI), age 40-55. Subjects' screening (inclusion criteria)—at least 1 standard deviation (SD) below average in at least one cognitive domain, as measured using a computerized cognitive assessment (e.g. Neurotrax, or any other suitable assessment tool).

[0113] Two groups of 5 patients each are tested according to the following grouping: [0114] 1. Group 1: HBOT with cognitive training intra-chamber (60 cycles, for example 1 cycle per day for 60 days) [0115] 2. Group 2 (control 1): HBOT with cognitive training outside the chamber (60 daily cycles) [0116] 3. Group 3 (control 2): Cognitive training tasks only (60 daily cycles), or both groups perform cognitive training for 40-60 sessions without HBOT prior to separation into Group 1 and Group 2.

Treatment Parameters:

[0117] Pressure in chamber: 2 ATA [0118] Oxygen level: 100% [0119] Total time: 120 minutes per treatment cycle [0120] Oxygen net time: 90 minutes per cycle [0121] Administration of oxygen rich environment by mask [0122] Total number of cycles: 60 [0123] Number of cycles per week: 5 [0124] Decompression rate: 1 m/min [0125] Compression rate: 1 m/min [0126] Air breaks: 5 minutes air break (21% oxygen) between every 20 minutes of rich-oxygen environment administration [0127] Duration of cognitive training task: 20 minutes per cycle

Exemplary Cognitive Training

[0128] memory (verbal, nonverbal, immediate, delayed) [0129] information processing speed

[0130] A memory score and/or information processing speed score are determined before and after treatment cycles by BRAINHQ (every 5 cycles), and by Neurotrax (after 60 cycles), or by any other suitable assessment tool.