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Intermittent Hypoxia
Intro
Intermittent Hypoxia is a brief and controlled exposure to lowered oxygen levels combined with normoxia (exposure to normal oxygen levels around 21% o2 )Used in proper contexts and safely it can act as a powerful physiological stimulus to enhance brain adaptation.
Mechanisms
When you undergo reduced oxygen in your body, the partial pressures of oxygen in you arteries are reduced. This reduction of pp is sensed by and then stimulates the carotid body, a peripheral chemoreceptor that transduces a chemical substance to generate a biological signal, the way the carotid body detects these changes is still unknown.
This is relevant as in the carotid there are type I cells, derived from neuroectoderm(the formation of ntd is the first step in the nervous system devolpment),
these cells are extremely electrically excitable, the decrease of o2 and increase of co2 causes the deplolarization of the cell membrane.
This reduction of the cell membrane opens "voltage-gated calcium channels" leading to a rise of i.c calcium concentration. the increase of calcium leads to "exocytosis" ( a cell transporting molecules out of the cell) of the synaptic vesicles.
The exocytosis of vesicles contains a plethora of neurotransmitters e.g. acetylcholine, dopamine, ATP.
This is relevant as in the carotid there are type I cells, derived from neuroectoderm(the formation of ntd is the first step in the nervous system devolpment),
these cells are extremely electrically excitable, the decrease of o2 and increase of co2 causes the deplolarization of the cell membrane.
This reduction of the cell membrane opens "voltage-gated calcium channels" leading to a rise of i.c calcium concentration. the increase of calcium leads to "exocytosis" ( a cell transporting molecules out of the cell) of the synaptic vesicles.
The exocytosis of vesicles contains a plethora of neurotransmitters e.g. acetylcholine, dopamine, ATP.
IH's strongest argument is for its ability to activate hypoxia responsive pathways, mostly due to Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 alpha..
the activation of these pathways can increase:
Brain derivived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
Erythropoieten (EPO)
BDNF is a protein that acts like a fertilzer for the brain. IT IS VITAL for neuroplasicity and neurogenesis, making IH interesting for cognitive function
VEGF "is a signaling protein that stimulates the growth of new blood vessels"
promotes healing growth and oxygen delivery, but , it gets hijacked by cancer cells and overproduces vegf to fuel the cancer cells
EPO is js some cells in your kidney that stimulate stem cells ts kinda boring
Overall these releases show promising capabilities for cognitive benefits especially in people lacking it
the activation of these pathways can increase:
Brain derivived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
Erythropoieten (EPO)
BDNF is a protein that acts like a fertilzer for the brain. IT IS VITAL for neuroplasicity and neurogenesis, making IH interesting for cognitive function
VEGF "is a signaling protein that stimulates the growth of new blood vessels"
promotes healing growth and oxygen delivery, but , it gets hijacked by cancer cells and overproduces vegf to fuel the cancer cells
EPO is js some cells in your kidney that stimulate stem cells ts kinda boring
Overall these releases show promising capabilities for cognitive benefits especially in people lacking it
Potential benefits
Enhanced cognitive functions e.g memory, attention, executive function, processing speed) Increased neuroplasticity and neurogenesis
Improved cerebral blood flow and vascular health Potential neuroprotective effects (may help w mild cognitive impairment)
Better oxygen utilization and mitochondrial efficiency
Possible synergy with exercise for greater brain benefits
used in the most studies:
4 cycles of 10 min at in and around13% O₂ + 5 min normoxia
2 sessions per day, 5 days total
4 cycles of 10 min at in and around13% O₂ + 5 min normoxia
2 sessions per day, 5 days total
My thoughts + conclusion
IH has some very strong pro arguments, its activation of known pathways linked to neuroplasticity make it an interesting and very plausible to use for cognitive enhancement.Also im not saying your going to be taking the limitless pill by doing IH, and it does get outclassed by Pharmacology and exogenous chems, but adding it as a tool is free and takes barely any time. Most studies surrounding it are done in rats, which some might say aren't definitive but imo these studies are a foundation of neuroscience and multiple studies show similar molecular adaptation and some human studies have observed the same physiological response.
Some might say theres a lack of proof for it, but an absence of proof isnt proof of absence.
@fent im back bby
