Brain Not Working As Well As It Should

Is Low Oxygen the cause?

If you’ve been feeling foggy, forgetful, or like your brain just isn’t keeping up anymore, you’re not alone. Millions of people struggle with brain fog and memory issues every day. For some, those struggles progress into mild cognitive impairment, dementia, or even Alzheimer’s disease.

Doctors often tell us this is just “aging” or “bad genetics.” But what if the real culprit isn’t written in your DNA? What if the reason your brain isn’t working the way it should is as simple—and as critical—as oxygen?

Your brain is oxygen-hungry. It makes up only about 2% of your body’s weight but uses nearly 20% of the oxygen you breathe (Raichle & Gusnard, 2002). Oxygen is what fuels neurons to fire, synapses to connect, and memory to form. Without a steady supply, the brain slows down. With long-term shortages, neurons misfire, weaken, and eventually die.

That shortage might start as brain fog. But over time, it can contribute to the cognitive decline we associate with dementia and Alzheimer’s. The real question isn’t only “why am I forgetting things?”—it’s “why isn’t my brain getting enough oxygen in the first place?”

The Hidden Thieves of Oxygen

There are many reasons why oxygen supply to your brain can be disrupted. Some happen suddenly, like a severe illness. Others creep up slowly over years, stealing brain function in silence.

Air Pollution

Breathing polluted air reduces the usable oxygen reaching your lungs. Microscopic particles inflame and scar lung tissue, decreasing gas exchange. Long-term exposure is linked with a higher risk of cognitive decline (Chen et al., 2017).

Lung Damage

Diseases such as COPD, asthma, pneumonia, or COVID-19 can permanently scar lung tissue. That scarring reduces elasticity and makes oxygen transfer less efficient. Even after infection resolves, many report lingering “brain fog”—a direct effect of reduced oxygenation (Wu et al., 2020).

Poor Circulation

Oxygen has to travel from lungs to brain via the cardiovascular system. Weak circulation—whether from heart disease or sedentary living—delays delivery. A sluggish supply leaves neurons under-fueled. Poor circulation is strongly tied to vascular dementia (Iadecola, 2013).

Clogged Arteries

Plaque buildup and atherosclerosis narrow vessels, choking off blood flow. Even small blockages reduce oxygen delivery to brain regions. Cardiovascular disease is one of the top risk factors for dementia (Livingston et al., 2020).

Endothelial Inflammation

The endothelium, the thin lining of blood vessels, regulates blood flow. High blood sugar, toxins, and smoking inflame these cells, stiffening vessels and reducing perfusion. Chronic endothelial dysfunction is linked with Alzheimer’s pathology (de Montgolfier et al., 2019).

Sleep Apnea

In sleep apnea, breathing pauses dozens of times an hour, briefly suffocating the brain. Each pause reduces oxygen saturation and damages neurons. Sleep apnea nearly doubles the risk of cognitive impairment (Leng et al., 2017).

Low Red Blood Cells

Anemia and hemoglobin disorders reduce the number of “delivery trucks” carrying oxygen. When hemoglobin is low, the brain is one of the first organs to suffer. Cognitive decline is common in chronic anemia (Shah et al., 2011).

Chronic Conditions

Diabetes, hypertension, and systemic inflammation damage vessels and circulation. They indirectly reduce oxygen delivery, explaining why they so often coincide with dementia risk (Biessels & Despa, 2018).

Why Oxygen Shortage Hits the Brain So Hard

The brain is uniquely sensitive to oxygen deprivation. Total cutoff causes damage within minutes. But even mild chronic shortages create long-term harm.

At first, this looks like “just brain fog”—difficulty concentrating, forgetting details, slower thinking. But over time, neurons starve and die, leaving gaps in networks critical for memory and cognition. This cumulative process mimics—and accelerates—the progression of dementia and Alzheimer’s (Aliev et al., 2011).

What Modern Science Says

The link between oxygen and brain health has historical roots. German physicist Manfred von Ardenne proposed in Oxygen Multistep Therapy (1987) that oxygen shortage in microcirculation contributes to aging and chronic disease. While his approach (later called EWOT) was an important first step, today’s science has moved far beyond, validating oxygen therapy in more precise ways.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has produced some of the strongest clinical evidence. In HBOT, patients breathe pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber. That increased pressure dissolves oxygen directly into blood plasma, penetrating tissues and the brain beyond what normal breathing can achieve.

Multiple studies confirm HBOT can:

• Improve cognition in Alzheimer’s and mild cognitive impairment patients (Harch et al., 2020).

• Increase cerebral blood flow and reduce amyloid plaques (Shapira et al., 2021).

• Enhance daily living skills and reduce inflammatory biomarkers (Wang et al., 2024).

These results are striking: HBOT shows oxygen isn’t just fuel—it may slow or even reverse aspects of neurodegeneration.

The HBOT Dilemma: Powerful But Impractical

If HBOT is so promising, why isn’t it widely used for dementia? The answer: cost and access.

• One session costs $200–$400.

• Effective protocols require 40–80 sessions, totaling $10,000–$30,000.

• Benefits often require ongoing “maintenance” sessions.

• Insurance usually does not cover HBOT for dementia.

• Each session takes hours, several days a week, for months.

For most families, HBOT remains financially and logistically impossible—even though it delivers results (Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 2024).

Why EWOT Doesn’t Cut It

Exercise With Oxygen Therapy (EWOT), inspired by von Ardenne’s ideas, involves breathing oxygen while exercising. It’s far cheaper than HBOT, but it has critical flaws:

• It delivers a fixed stream of oxygen that does not adapt to real-time needs.

• Benefits are shallow and short-lived.

• It does not penetrate the brain deeply enough to mimic HBOT’s results.

• Long-term repeated exposure may increase oxidative stress risks (Lösch et al., 2015).

In short: EWOT was a stepping stone, not a solution. Modern science requires more adaptive, effective methods.

The Modern Answer: LiveO₂ Adaptive Contrast

This is where LiveO₂ Adaptive Contrast comes in. Instead of just breathing oxygen while you move, LiveO₂ alternates between low oxygen (hypoxia) and high oxygen (hyperoxia).

That shift forces dramatic physiological adaptation: vessels dilate, circulation surges, and oxygen is pushed into tissues and the brain more deeply than EWOT allows. Unlike EWOT, LiveO₂ trains your body to use oxygen more effectively, creating lasting benefits.

It delivers a practical, affordable option that sits between the scientific power of HBOT and the impracticality of accessing it regularly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Why am I experiencing brain fog every day and could it be related to low oxygen?
Yes. Oxygen is the brain’s main fuel. If your lungs, circulation, or red blood cells are compromised, your neurons may not get enough oxygen. This often feels like constant brain fog (Wu et al., 2020).

Q: Can low oxygen levels really cause dementia or Alzheimer’s disease over time?
Yes. Chronic low oxygen accelerates neuron death and is strongly associated with dementia progression (Aliev et al., 2011). Conditions like clogged arteries and sleep apnea directly lower brain oxygen and double dementia risk (Leng et al., 2017).

Q: Is there any way to improve memory loss without taking more medications?
Improving oxygen delivery is one of the most promising drug-free strategies. HBOT has shown clinical improvements, and systems like LiveO₂ offer practical at-home ways to boost oxygen utilization (Shapira et al., 2021).

Q: How effective is hyperbaric oxygen therapy for dementia, and why doesn’t everyone use it?
HBOT is highly effective, with studies showing improved memory scores, better daily living, and reduced brain inflammation (Wang et al., 2024). But the cost—often $10,000–$30,000 or more—and the need for ongoing sessions make it unrealistic for most families.

Q: Is exercise with oxygen therapy (EWOT) a good alternative to HBOT?
Not really. EWOT was based on early ideas (von Ardenne, 1987), but modern research shows it doesn’t provide deep, lasting brain benefits. It’s outdated compared to adaptive oxygen systems.

Q: What is the difference between LiveO₂ Adaptive Contrast and traditional oxygen therapy?
LiveO₂ alternates between low and high oxygen states, forcing the body to expand vessels and push oxygen deep into tissues. This adaptive contrast creates long-lasting changes in how your body uses oxygen—something EWOT and basic oxygen therapies cannot replicate.

Q: What is the most practical way to increase oxygen in my body if I can’t afford hyperbaric oxygen therapy?
For most, HBOT is too expensive and time-consuming. LiveO₂ Adaptive Contrast is the most practical middle ground—bringing advanced oxygenation benefits into the home at a fraction of the cost.

Final Thoughts

If your brain isn’t working as well as it should, oxygen may be the missing link. From pollution and lung disease to clogged arteries, anemia, and sleep apnea, countless conditions reduce oxygen supply to the brain.

The science is clear: increasing oxygen improves cognition, circulation, and brain resilience. HBOT proves what’s possible—but its high cost and time demands make it inaccessible for most. EWOT, once promising, is now outdated and insufficient.

That’s why modern solutions like LiveO₂ Adaptive Contrast matter. They make deep oxygenation practical and accessible, helping restore clarity, focus, and vitality to brains running on empty.

Oxygen isn’t optional. It’s the most vital fuel your brain has. And if you’re living with brain fog, memory loss, or early dementia, increasing oxygen delivery could be the most powerful step you take toward getting your life back.

References

• Aliev, G., et al. (2011). Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease. Neurotoxicity Research, 19(2), 255–271.

• Biessels, G. J., & Despa, F. (2018). Cognitive decline and dementia in diabetes mellitus. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 128(1), 51–60.

• Chen, H., et al. (2017). Living near major roads and dementia incidence. Lancet, 389(10070), 718–726.

• de Montgolfier, O., et al. (2019). Endothelial dysfunction and cognitive decline. Frontiers in Physiology, 10, 1051.

• Harch, P. G., et al. (2020). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in Alzheimer’s disease. Medical Gas Research, 10(4), 154–166.

• Iadecola, C. (2013). The pathobiology of vascular dementia. Neuron, 80(4), 844–866.

• Leng, Y., et al. (2017). Sleep apnea and cognitive decline. Neurology, 88(5), 463–469.

• Livingston, G., et al. (2020). Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report. Lancet, 396(10248), 413–446.

• Lösch, A., et al. (2015). Oxygen therapy and oxidative stress. Free Radical Research, 49(9), 1131–1141.

• Raichle, M. E., & Gusnard, D. A. (2002). Appraising the brain’s energy budget. PNAS, 99(16), 10237–10239.

• Shah, R. C., et al. (2011). Anemia and risk of dementia. Neurology, 77(9), 781–788.

• Shapira, R., et al. (2021). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves cognitive function in MCI and Alzheimer’s. Aging, 13(5), 7024–7040.

• Wang, X., et al. (2024). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy meta-analysis in Alzheimer’s. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 16, 1360148.

• Wu, Z., et al. (2020). Neurological manifestations of COVID-19. JAMA Neurology, 77(6), 683–690.

• von Ardenne, M. (1987). Oxygen Multistep Therapy. Leipzig: VEB Verlag.