Investigational · Not FDA-Cleared
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Anti-Aging: What the Longevity Studies Actually Show
A few small studies from one Israeli center reported changes in blood-cell markers, thinking-skill scores and skin biopsies in healthy older adults after 60 sessions. None measured lifespan or disease. Aging is not an FDA-cleared indication, and Generations Wellness does not offer anti-aging HBOT.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is not an FDA-cleared indication for aging, longevity or general wellness, and Generations Wellness does not market or sell "anti-aging" sessions. The headlines come from a handful of studies at one Israeli center in healthy adults aged 64 and older who completed 60 sessions. One reported longer telomeres in immune cells. One reported better attention and processing speed than an untreated group. And a 13-person skin-biopsy study reported more collagen. Those are real findings, but they are laboratory markers and test scores from small, mostly uncontrolled studies, with no data on lifespan, disease, durability or replication elsewhere. This page explains what each study measured, what it cannot claim, and which cleared indications are actually common after 60.
Not an FDA-cleared indication
Hyperbaric chambers are FDA-cleared for a specific list of conditions. Aging, longevity and general wellness are not on it, and they are not among the UHMS-recognized indications. Generations Wellness does not market or provide HBOT for these purposes. This page summarizes the published research so you can read it for yourself. See the cleared conditions list.
Background
Where the "Anti-Aging" Claim Comes From
Most "HBOT anti-aging" headlines trace back to a cluster of studies published between 2020 and 2024 by researchers at Shamir Medical Center in Israel. The participants were healthy adults aged 64 and older. The protocol was intensive: 60 sessions at 2.0 ATA over about three months.
Press coverage of these studies often described them as "reversing aging." The papers themselves were more careful. They reported changes in specific measurements: the length of telomeres (protective caps on chromosomes) in certain blood cells, scores on cognitive tests, and features of skin tissue under a microscope.
The hypothesis behind it
The researchers proposed what they call the "hyperoxic-hypoxic paradox." The idea is that repeatedly raising oxygen levels and then letting them fall may trigger some of the same repair signals the body uses when oxygen is low. This is a hypothesis, not an established mechanism. You can read more about the hyperoxic-hypoxic paradox hypothesis in our explainer on how HBOT works.
The Studies
What the Research Shows
| Study | Year | Design | n | Key finding | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hachmo et al., Aging (telomeres) | 2020 | Prospective, single group, no control; 60 sessions | 35 healthy adults aged 64+ | Telomere length in several immune-cell types rose more than 20%; in B cells, by 25.7% at session 30, 29.4% at session 60 and 37.6% after the course. The share of senescent T cells fell by about 10% to 37% | No control group; blood-cell markers only; single center; wide variation between people (standard deviations of roughly 40% to 52%) |
| Amir et al., Aging (cognition) | 2020 | Randomized, HBOT vs. no-treatment control, no sham; 60 sessions | 63 (33 HBOT, 30 control) | Improved attention (net effect size 0.745), processing speed (0.788) and global cognition, linked to changes in brain blood flow on MRI | Not blinded; no sham; single center; not replicated |
| Hadanny et al., Aging (skin) | 2021 | Prospective, no control; skin biopsies from part of a larger cohort | 13 men | Increased collagen density (effect size 1.10), elastic-fiber length (2.71) and number of small blood vessels (1.00) | Very small; no control; microscope findings, not appearance |
| "Effects of Hyperoxia on Aging Biomarkers," Frontiers in Aging | 2021 | Systematic review | Multiple studies | Promising biomarker changes | Low-quality evidence; no clinical-outcome data |
Two related papers are often cited alongside these. A 2021 companion paper from the same research program reported changes in gene expression after HBOT, using the same single-group design without a control. A 2024 randomized trial compared HBOT with a control group in older adults and reported improvement in some measures of physical performance, again without a sham group and at a single center.
A note on "stem cells" and inflammation
You may also see claims that HBOT "boosts stem cells." That traces to physiology research, including a 2006 study by Thom and colleagues, which reported that HBOT increased the number of circulating CD34+ progenitor cells in the blood. That is a laboratory observation about cells in the bloodstream. It does not show any health benefit, and it is not evidence that HBOT slows aging. The same caution applies to changes in blood markers of inflammation or measures of how cells produce energy: a shift in a marker is a research finding, not a demonstrated benefit for your health.
For a quick checklist on judging any study, see how to read an HBOT study.
The Limits
What the Research Does Not Show
No study shows that HBOT reverses aging. Here is what the research specifically cannot tell you:
- Not FDA clearance. Aging and wellness are not cleared indications.
- Not a longer life or fewer age-related diseases. No study measured either.
- Not that longer blood-cell telomeres mean a younger body. Telomere length is one marker, measured with high variation, in certain blood cells only.
- Not durability. Most measurements were taken within weeks of the last session.
- Not replication. The findings come from one center and have not been confirmed elsewhere.
- Not results for the general population. Participants were healthy volunteers able to complete 60 sessions.
- Not safety for indefinite repeated use. Repeated exposure carries real risks, including ear and sinus barotrauma, temporary nearsightedness and, rarely, oxygen toxicity seizures. Read about the risks of repeated exposure.
- Not that changes in inflammation markers or progenitor cells are a health benefit. They are physiology findings only.
Cost
The Cost of an Investigational Course
The protocol used in these studies was 60 sessions. At published national self-pay ranges of roughly $150 to $450 per session, that would come to about $9,000 to $27,000, with no insurer coverage, for a use with no proven clinical benefit. Those are national ranges for illustration, not a quote from any center. To understand how pricing works for cleared indications, see our cost guide.
The Cleared Side
Common Cleared Indications in Adults Over 60
While HBOT is not cleared for aging itself, several cleared indications become more common later in life. For these, HBOT may support care as part of a physician-directed plan when criteria are met:
- Diabetic foot ulcers that have not healed with standard wound care
- Delayed radiation injury after treatment for prostate, breast, or head and neck cancer
- Non-healing wounds in people with complicating conditions
- Sudden sensorineural hearing loss, which is time-sensitive
- Chronic refractory osteomyelitis, a bone infection that hasn't responded to standard treatment
At Generations Wellness
How We Handle These Requests
- A physician assessment. Dr. Rajwinder Singh Bahia, MD's physician-directed team will discuss your situation, your goals, and what the studies did and did not measure.
- An honest conversation. If HBOT is not appropriate for you, we say so. We do not sell wellness or anti-aging sessions.
- A check for cleared indications. If you have one of the cleared conditions above, it is assessed on its own merits, and HBOT is offered only when a physician determines it is appropriate.
- No promises. No outcome is promised for any indication, cleared or not.
- Coordination with your doctors. With your permission, we work with the physicians already caring for you and, where relevant, point you toward registered clinical trials.
Want to talk through your situation? Talk to our physician.
Important
This page summarizes research on an investigational use. Aging and longevity are not FDA-cleared indications for HBOT. A physician assessment is required before beginning HBOT at Generations Wellness for any indication, and HBOT never replaces the care prescribed by your doctors.
Questions
HBOT and Anti-Aging: Frequently Asked Questions
Does hyperbaric oxygen therapy reverse aging?
No study has shown that. One small uncontrolled study reported longer telomeres in blood cells after 60 sessions; that is a laboratory marker, not a clinical outcome, and aging is not a cleared indication.
What did the telomere study find?
In 35 healthy adults aged 64 and older, telomere length in several immune-cell types rose by more than 20% after 60 sessions, with large variation between people and no control group.
Does HBOT improve cognition in healthy older adults?
A 63-person randomized trial without a sham group reported better attention and processing speed after 60 sessions. It has not been replicated.
Does HBOT improve skin?
Skin biopsies in 13 men showed more collagen and longer elastic fibers after HBOT. No study has measured appearance or wrinkles in a controlled way.
Is regular HBOT safe for healthy people?
Repeated exposure carries the same risks as treatment courses, including ear barotrauma, temporary nearsightedness and rare oxygen toxicity, with no proven benefit to offset them for this use.
Does Generations Wellness offer anti-aging or wellness HBOT?
No. HBOT is offered only for recognized medical indications, after a physician assessment determines it is appropriate.
Sources
- Hachmo Y, et al. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases telomere length and decreases immunosenescence in isolated blood cells: a prospective trial. Aging, 2020. aging-us.com
- Amir H, et al. Cognitive enhancement of healthy older adults using hyperbaric oxygen: a randomized controlled trial. Aging, 2020. aging-us.com
- Hadanny A, et al. The effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on the pathophysiology of skin aging: a prospective clinical trial. Aging, 2021. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Hadanny A, et al. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy induces transcriptome changes in elderly: a prospective trial. Aging, 2021. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Physical enhancement of older adults using hyperbaric oxygen: a randomized controlled trial, 2024. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Effects of Hyperoxia on Aging Biomarkers: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in Aging, 2021. frontiersin.org
- Thom SR, et al. Stem cell mobilization by hyperbaric oxygen. American Journal of Physiology: Heart and Circulatory Physiology, 2006. doi.org
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: Get the Facts. fda.gov
- Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Indications. uhms.org
This page is educational and not medical advice. Aging, longevity and wellness are not FDA-cleared indications for HBOT, and Generations Wellness does not market HBOT for them. A physician assessment is required before HBOT. See our full medical disclaimer.
Your Next Step
Talk to a Physician About Your Situation
We'll give you an honest answer about whether HBOT is appropriate for you, including when it isn't.
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