Hypoxia as a medicine.

Science translational medicine
Authors
Abstract

Oxygen is essential for human life, yet a growing body of preclinical research is demonstrating that chronic continuous hypoxia can be beneficial in models of mitochondrial disease, autoimmunity, ischemia, and aging. This research is revealing exciting new and unexpected facets of oxygen biology, but translating these findings to patients poses major challenges, because hypoxia can be dangerous. Overcoming these barriers will require integrating insights from basic science, high-altitude physiology, clinical medicine, and sports technology. Here, we explore the foundations of this nascent field and outline a path to determine how chronic continuous hypoxia can be safely, effectively, and practically delivered to patients.

Year of Publication
2025
Journal
Science translational medicine
Volume
17
Issue
782
Pages
eadr4049
Date Published
01/2025
ISSN
1946-6242
DOI
10.1126/scitranslmed.adr4049
PubMed ID
39841808
Links