Effects of cognitive training under hypoxia on cognitive proficiency and neuroplasticity in remitted patients with mood disorders and healthy individuals: ALTIBRAIN study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

backgroundCognitive impairment is prevalent across neuropsychiatric disorders but there is a lack of treatment strategies with robust, enduring effects. Emerging evidence indicates that altitude-like hypoxia cognition training may induce long-lasting neuroplasticity and improve cognition. We will investigate whether repeated cognition training under normobaric hypoxia can improve cognitive functions in healthy individuals and patients with affective disorders and the neurobiological underpinnings of such effects.

methodsIn sub-study 1, 120 healthy participants are randomized to one of four treatment arms in a double-blind manner, allowing for examination of separate and combined effects of three-week repeated moderate hypoxia and cognitive training, respectively. In sub-study 2, 60 remitted patients with major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder are randomized to hypoxia with cognition training or treatment as usual. Assessments of cognition, psychosocial functioning, and quality of life are performed at baseline, end-of-treatment, and at 1-month follow-up. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans are conducted at baseline and 1-month follow-up, and [ DISCUSSION: The results will provide novel insights into whether repeated hypoxia cognition training increases cognition and brain plasticity, which can aid future treatment development strategies.

trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06121206 . Registered on 31 October 2023.