Wistar albino rats' cognitive and behavioral parameters are changed by acute intermittent hypoxia therapy

Abstract

Effective preventive and treatment techniques are necessary for cognitive illnesses, such as dementia and 
Alzheimer's disease, which present significant global health issues. With its short exposures to lower oxygen levels, 
intermittent hypoxia treatment (IHT) is a unique method that may have advantages for cognitive function. This 
research uses extensive behavioral studies, such as the Morris water maze (MWM) and open field test (OFT), to 
examine the effects of IHT on cognitive function in wistar albino rats. The findings show that IHT enhances 
cognitive flexibility, decreases behaviors associated with anxiety, and increases locomotor activity. The IH group 
had more mobility in the OFT, as shown by more grid crossings and distance traversed. This may be linked to 
improved cognitive function. In addition, compared to the control group, IH dramatically decreased the amount of 
fecal boli and thigmotaxis behavior, suggesting decreased anxiety levels. IHT enhanced platform identification in 
the probing test but did not substantially increase spatial memory acquisition in the MWM. Increased time spent 
in the target quadrant by the IH group suggests improved recognition and recall of memories. Furthermore, IH 
showed modest gains in cognitive flexibility in the reverse MWM, with quicker latency on trial 1. These results 
imply that IHT has potential as a non-invasive strategy for improving cognition, especially with regard to reduced 
anxiety, increased locomotor activity, and specific memory and cognitive flexibility issues.