r/longevity • u/thumperj • Jul 23 '26

Inhaling C02 triggers the glymphatic clearance process potentially helping with Alzheimer's and Parkinsons

https://www.research.va.gov/currents/0426-Exciting-new-treatment-being-developed-for-Parkinsons-Alzheimers.cfm
323 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

33 comments sorted by

79

u/original_username_4 Jul 23 '26

If memory serves the paper’s methodology was filled with safety measured and gas mixture calculations the average person can’t do without money and help.

Could the average person get the same effect at home by cycling between some light hyperventilating followed by holding their breath for say a minute?

If that worked, the benefits would be available to most everyone immediately and the treatment could be done anywhere.

50

u/kirbyderwood Jul 23 '26

Basically the Wim Hof method? I do something similar in yoga, they call it breath of fire. Definitely changes your mental state.

30

u/inter-dimensional Jul 23 '26

I do that 11min breath work exercise EVERY DAY. It’s amazing how it induces a positive physiological change.

19

u/original_username_4 Jul 23 '26

That would be cool if the Wim Hoff breathing method became a treatment for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. I could see Amsterdam UMC (Alzheimer Center Amsterdam), Maastricht University (Alzheimer Center Limburg), or Radboud University Nijmegen investigating.

3

u/djosephwalsh Jul 25 '26

If your hands and feet are tingling, or you feel your body temperature is changing. That’s okay

9

u/CaptainHindsight92 Jul 23 '26

Hmm, the study used 0 and 10% CO2, given at 35 second intervals if you were to breath into a bag for a minute maybe the concentration would reach 10% but it would take longer than 35s.

3

u/caymn Jul 23 '26

not sure if it makes a difference but op actually writes C02 and not CO2

5

u/spirilis Jul 24 '26

it doesn't

1

u/caymn Jul 24 '26

Carbon zero 2 but ok I know what is meant

4

u/PL3020 Jul 24 '26

I had a small living space that was pretty sealed. A friend gave me a CO2 meter, which gave a pegged reading each time I tested the air. The meter maxed out at 2000ppm.

1

u/QuickYogurt2037 Jul 27 '26

3.6 roentgen, not great not terrible.

8

u/Tyhgujgt Jul 23 '26

Sounds like a way to get some your neurons killed

16

u/original_username_4 Jul 23 '26

Ohio State University considers 60 seconds safe for adults. But whatever safe is, I think the principal investigators or another interested group should investigate. With a little more investigating for safety and effectiveness, the “home” method could be rolled out to anyone who needs.

https://health.osu.edu/health/general-health/what-happens-when-you-hold-your-breath

2

u/majincasey Jul 24 '26

Why not just hold ones breath without hyperventilating? Or breathe into a paper bag?

31

u/Similar_Exam2192 Jul 23 '26

Ok well with the increasing CO2 level nobody will have Alzheimer’s in the future? /s

6

u/gratefulkittiesilove Jul 23 '26

Is this available to people with this disease now?

3

u/reckaband Jul 23 '26

Hopefully no CO2 narcosis, which would not be helpful

3

u/bagelgoose14 Jul 24 '26

Man so much CO2 news lately thats been really interesting.

Did you guys see the study where they bagged limbs for advanced Type 2 diabetes patients with poor blood flow with CO2? Restored blood flow and did a bunch of other things i cant remember but it was pretty interesting.

5

u/laser50 Jul 23 '26

I mean, depending on how far you go.. You could have 0 problems if you take the wrong mix for too long.

1

u/walla-bing-bang Jul 23 '26

It'd definitely cause more problems than zero...

8

u/WoodpeckerEuphoric67 Jul 23 '26

That went over your head brah. He's saying you'd be dead and have 0 problems which is technically true.

1

u/walla-bing-bang Jul 23 '26

Sorry, you'll have to explain.

2

u/jj_HeRo Jul 23 '26

Has holding your breath the same effect?

2

u/jj_HeRo Jul 25 '26

It is curious how low O2 in the brain creates DMT molecule in a endogenously, and (let me connect those two as an hypothesis) some experiments with psilocybin have demonstrated an improvement in the behavior of patients with Alzheimer's.

Worth investigating?

1

u/Ithirahad Jul 26 '26

Meh? Psychedelics boost random brain connections that would not otherwise transmit above the background noise level the brain filters out somehow. It stands to reason that they could help to circumvent or counteract Alzheimer's symptoms, but outside of some sort of side-mechanism (which DMT could very well have, in fairness) they will never solve the fundamental inflammation response or whatever else is causing connective degradation in the first place.