Author(s): BOULARES, A., FAUCHER, C., PICHON, A., DUPUY, O., Institution: POITIERS UNIVERSITY , Country: FRANCE, Abstract-ID: 1006

INTRODUCTION:
In recent years, intermittent hypoxia (IH) has increasingly attracted the interest of the scholarly community. An accumulating body of research has explored its effects in varied contexts, including clinical and sports medicine, spanning a wide range of populations. This includes older adults both with and without underlying health conditions [1,2]. Multiple protocols of IH have been developed to quantify its impact [2,3]. This systematic review aims to enrich our comprehension of the potential benefits of IH protocols on cognitive function in old adults with or without cognitive impairment.
METHODS:
A systematic search was conducted following PRISMA guidelines across four databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library. The search encompassed the earliest available records up to January 2023 using the following eligibility criteria: 1-Original research with sufficient quantitative details; 2-Studies involving old adults, with or without cognitive impairment; 3-Studies including old adults exposed to any intermittent hypoxia protocols or undergoing interventional programs including intermittent hypoxia protocols; 4-Articles focusing on the analysis of cognition performance in older adults.
RESULTS:
Out of 556 initial search records, seven studies and four registers met inclusion criteria, revealing that Intermittent hypoxia training (IHT) and Intermittent hypoxia-hyperoxia (IHHT) protocols may enhance cognitive functions, with variations in efficacy depending on the presence of cognitive impairment. IHHT, especially when combined with physical exercise, showed more promise in improving cognitive scores and cerebral hemodynamics. Cognitive improvements were more pronounced in participants with existing cognitive impairments.
CONCLUSION:
This systematic review indicates that IHT and IHHT offer beneficial cognitive effects for older adults, with IHHT yielding more substantial improvements. These findings advocate for further research to optimize hypoxic training protocols as a therapeutic strategy for age-related cognitive decline.