The Science of Telomeres and Why They Matter
Telomeres are kind of like the plastic tips on the ends of your shoelaces, which keep them from fraying. In the same way, telomeres are little caps on the tips of chromosomes that keep DNA from fraying and being damaged over time. You see, when DNA uncoils, exposing the genetic code, it makes it possible for RNA to code upon the DNA and, in turn, go into ribosomes in the cell and produce a protein. This is how repairs are made in the body, enzymes are produced, and so on. But all this uncoiling and recoiling of DNA over time can cause the DNA to become damaged. Telomeres protect the DNA from this.
Measuring the size of the telomeres on the DNA gives us a basic idea of the wear and tear on the DNA. An understanding of this led us to the categorization of what we call a person’s genetic age. A young person who has had multiple illnesses, operations, and other damage to the body might be very young, but their telomeres could be in poor shape. In that situation, a person’s genetic age is older than their actual age. Conversely, a person who is older but has taken good care of themselves, avoided illness, and been fortunate enough to avoid injuries and other illnesses may have a telomere age, or genetic age, that looks much younger than their actual physical age. This is what doctors tend to call people with “good protoplasm.”
From Theory to Clinical Evidence
The study of genetic aging and cellular aging goes back to the 1970s. Understanding of telomeres and the enzyme telomerase responsible for maintaining telomeres was first achieved in the mid-1980s. As time went on, lab tests became available that could quantify telomere size and function. Many over-the-counter medications, lifestyle changes, and other interventions were purported to make a difference in genetic age. Most of them were nonsense. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy has long been strongly believed to affect telomeres in a positive way, about as long as we’ve known about telomeres.
Now, in 2022, a very important paper was published by the NIH / National Center for Biologic Information (NCBI) demonstrating definitive benefits of Hyperbaric Therapy on telomere size and cellular aging. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
What the Study Found
The study involved healthy adults aged 64 and older who underwent 60 hyperbaric treatments. Blood samples were taken at the beginning, mid-point, end, and 1–2 weeks after the protocol. In the participants analyzed, telomere length in T helper, T cytotoxic, natural killer, and B cells increased significantly by over 20% following Hyperbaric Therapy. The most notable change was in B cells, which increased at the 30th session, 60th session, and post-therapy.
What This Means for Immunity and Aging
So why is this so earth-shaking? Helper T-cells help promulgate immune reactions in the body involving many factors. Cytotoxic T-cells destroy bacteria and other threats. Natural killer cells patrol the bloodstream, targeting abnormal cells that could develop into cancer. B-cells produce antibodies and immune chemicals. The increases in telomere length seen in these cell types help explain how Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy activates the immune system and influences gene expression, with implications far beyond simple oxygen delivery.
What is most interesting is that while many in the allopathic medical profession have been slow to embrace Hyperbaric Therapy in the 365 years it has existed, it was a study published by an institution they trust that underscored the strength, potential, and healing benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.
Additional Benefits of Hyperbaric Therapy
So, it’s official. Hyperbaric Therapy makes telomeres longer and has a beneficial effect not just on the immune system but throughout the entire body. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy also increases the size of mitochondria, providing more energy to heal.
- Hyperbaric Therapy has antibacterial effects, particularly in abscesses and bones, within the skull and brain, and in other difficult-to-reach infections.
- Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy increases stem cell mass and the number of circulating stem cells, particularly in the central nervous system, where regenerative cells are otherwise scarce.
- Hyperbaric Therapy promotes angiogenesis, decreasing inflammation in blood vessel linings and stimulating new blood vessel formation—especially important in stroke recovery.
- Hyperbaric Therapy decreases inflammatory cytokines while increasing anti-inflammatory cytokines and promotes neuroplasticity by rerouting nerve connections and repairing peripheral nerves and their insulating myelin sheaths.
Scientific Validation: The Proof Is Clear
The NIH / NCBI article linked above provides open-access clinical evidence for the cellular anti-aging effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. Despite this, many physicians still do not understand it, believe in it, or use it. But the scientific proof is now published, verified, and available for review.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy WORKS, AND IT’S OFFICIAL!
Referencing the NIH / NCBI article: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7746357/ (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
Written By: Elias Tzanides, MD., F.A.C.P – Medical Director
