Perimenopause brings significant changes throughout the body. Along with changes in sleep, energy, mood, and metabolism, many women experience brain fog, including difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, and feeling less mentally sharp.
A 2026 study of more than 14,000 women found that perimenopausal (the 10-15 years leading up to menopause, plus the relatively short period around the final menstrual period) women were more likely to report cognitive symptoms than premenopausal women, highlighting the importance of understanding brain health during this transition.
While Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) has not been established as a treatment for perimenopause, emerging research offers some interesting connections.
Oxygen and Brain Health
HBOT increases the amount of oxygen available to the body’s tissues. Research in other populations suggests this improves brain blood flow and cognitive function and stimulates the growth of new neural connections.
In a randomized controlled trial of healthy adults over 64, HBOT was associated with improvements in attention and information-processing speed, along with increased blood flow in several areas of the brain involved in cognition.
Although these participants were not perimenopausal women, the findings raise an interesting question: could increasing oxygen availability and supporting circulation have a role in maintaining brain health during the menopause transition?
Inflammation, Oxidative Stress and Healthy Aging
Hormonal changes during menopause can increase inflammatory and oxidative processes throughout the body. Hyperbaric has been shown to address local and systemic inflammation, and research demonstrates that it reduces levels of proinflammatory cytokines that contribute to insulin resistance.
An Emerging Area: Metabolic Health
Researchers are also beginning to investigate HBOT and metabolic health in postmenopausal women. A clinical trial is currently examining whether HBOT can influence insulin resistance, blood glucose, and quality of life in postmenopausal women. Results have not yet been published, but another review of 17 studies found that HBOT improved fasting glycemia and decreased insulin resistance in patients with Diabetes mellitus, with effects appearing after 1 treatment session.
Looking Ahead
The research connecting HBOT and perimenopause is still in its early stages. HBOT is not currently an established treatment for perimenopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, fatigue, brain fog, or weight gain. However, research into brain blood flow, cognition, inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolic health is opening interesting questions about how oxygen-based therapies might support healthy aging in women.
As this research develops, Hyperbaric Vermont will continue to follow the science and share emerging findings about the potential role of HBOT in women’s health.