Effect of Hyperbaric Oxygen on Functional Connectivity in Patients With Cerebral Small Vessel Disease

The Effect of Hyperbaric Oxygen on the Functional Connectivity of Resting State Neural Networks in Patients With Cerebral Small Vessel Disease

Patients will have a Functional MRI before and after 10 hyperbaric Oxygen treatments.

Functional MRI studies will be done before and 4-6 weeks after Hyperbaric Oxygen treatment to assess changes in connectivity of resting state neural networks. 10 hyperbaric treatments at 2 atmospheres absolute for 1 hour at pressure will be administered. A review of symptoms and and thorough clinical neurological examination by an experienced neurologist familiar with these studies will be done before and 4-6 weeks after the hyperbaric treatments.

Inclusion Criteria:

• White Matter Hyperintensities on MRI
• 2 or more neurological symptoms or impairments e.g. gait disturbances, disequilibrium, cognitive decline, dysmetria, hyper-rflexia

Exclusion Criteria:

• Contraindication to hyperbaric oxygen treatment e.g. pulmonary emphysema, seizure disorder
• major eustachian tube dysfunction
• stroke with previous 6 months
• extreme cognitive impairment
• major depression
• history of migraine, electroshock therapy, brain irradiation, brain tumor, head trauma
• other uncontrolled co-morbidities, e.g. diabetes, renal or hepatic dysfunction, hypertension, thyroid disorders, carotid artery stenosis (>70%)