Effects of Intermittent Hypoxia Training with Parkinson’s Disease

Purpose: This case study investigated the effects of intermittent hypoxia training (IHT) on dopamine (DA) levels in an individual with Parkinson’s disease (PD), compared to a healthy control. The aim was to assess the feasibility, safety, and potential dopaminergic response to a six-week IHT intervention. Methods: Two female participants (one diagnosed with PD and one age-matched control) completed twice-weekly sessions of low-intensity cycling in a normobaric hypoxia chamber (FiO₂ 14.9%) for six weeks. Peripheral oxygen saturation was monitored to ensure safety, and venous blood samples were collected at baseline, midpoint (3 weeks), and endpoint (6 weeks) to evaluate serum dopamine levels using a competitive ELISA. Results: The control participant demonstrated a progressive increase in DA concentration, reaching a 104.9% increase by the study endpoint. The PD participant also showed elevated DA levels, with a 39.3% increase from baseline. The intervention was well tolerated by both participants, with no adverse events reported. Conclusion: Preliminary findings suggest that IHT may elicit a dopaminergic response in individuals with PD, potentially supporting its use as a novel adjunctive strategy to enhance neuroplasticity and dopaminergic activity. These results support the feasibility and safety of IHT in a clinical context; however, further investigation in larger cohorts is required to determine efficacy.