How Low Oxygen Could Hold the Key to Treating Parkinson’s
November 19, 2025 | By Stan Pillman
At Harvard Medical School, scientists just made a discovery that could change the way we think about neurodegenerative disease - and Hypoxico is proud to have played a small part in the process.
A new study published in Nature Neuroscience found that controlled exposure to low-oxygen air — the same kind simulated by Hypoxico altitude systems — helped restore movement and protect brain cells in mice with Parkinson’s-like symptoms.
Yes, you read that right: hypoxia may actually reverse neurological damage.
The Science (in plain English)
Researchers at Harvard, Massachusetts General Hospital, and the Broad Institute discovered that when brain cells can’t efficiently use oxygen - as often happens in Parkinson’s - oxygen builds up to toxic levels.
By lowering oxygen intake to around 11% (roughly equivalent to 16,000 feet of altitude), they saw something incredible: the neurons stayed alive, motor function returned, and degeneration stopped.
Even more fascinating, introducing hypoxia after symptoms appeared still led to measurable recovery. It suggests there’s a window where neurons aren’t dead — just struggling — and altitude-like conditions might give them a second chance.
Why This Matters to Us
At Hypoxico, we’ve always known that altitude training does more than build endurance — it builds resilience. Seeing our technology used at this level of medical research is both humbling and exhilarating.
For decades, we’ve worked with elite athletes, explorers, and innovators pushing human performance to the edge. Since we began this journey, we have been excited to see that same technology is also part of breakthroughs in neuroscience.
Looking Ahead
The researchers caution that this is just the beginning - mice aren’t humans, and there’s still much to learn. That’s the future we get excited about — a world where controlled hypoxia helps not only athletes but also people battling diseases once thought irreversible.
We’re proud that Hypoxico equipment continues to be part of the frontier where human performance, adaptation, and medical discovery meet. And honestly… we’re just big science nerds who can’t wait to see where this goes next.
Breathe smarter. Live higher.
More about the study from the Broad Institute news release.
Learn more about Hypoxico & its place in Medical Research.