Improvement of attention span and reaction time with hyperbaric oxygen treatment in patients with toxic injury due to mold exposure.
It is, by now, well established that mold toxins (mycotoxins) can cause significant adverse health effects. In this study, 15 subjects who developed an attention deficit disorder (ADD) and slowing of reaction time at the time of exposure to mold toxins were identified. Deficits in attention span and reaction time were documented not only by taking a careful history, but also by performing a Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA). The TOVA test provides an objective measure of these two variables. It was found that mold-exposed subjects show statistically significant decreases in attention span and significant increases in reaction time to stimuli compared to controls. After ten sessions of hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT), a statistically significant improvement was seen in both measures. This preliminary study suggests promising outcomes in treating mold-exposed patients with hyperbaric oxygen.
Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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N
Ezra
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K
Dang
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Heuser
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009181:Mycoses / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult