Intermittently Inhaling High-Dose CO2 Clears Alzheimer’s Proteins from the Brain
July 24th, 2026Via: New Scientist:
Inhaling high levels of carbon dioxide intermittently for half an hour flushes proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease out of the brain, a small study has found. Exposure to the gas changes how blood vessels in the brain constrict and dilate while we’re awake, mimicking activity that occurs during deep sleep. This then turbocharges the glymphatic system to remove the build-up of waste products that could cause harm.
A 2025 study suggests the same approach could help with Parkinson’s disease, by clearing the protein alpha-synuclein. “If you have any condition that is due to or exacerbated by any sort of accumulation of waste, this could be something beneficial,” says Sephira Ryman at The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque.
None of the participants experienced any side effects. However, long-term safety needs to be assessed. “While carbon dioxide is being studied as a potential therapeutic tool, people should not try to inhale carbon dioxide at home,” says Ryman. “In research studies, participants receive carefully controlled concentrations under continuous medical supervision, with specialised equipment that monitors safety throughout the procedure. Breathing higher concentrations of carbon dioxide outside of these controlled settings can be dangerous and, in some cases, life-threatening.”
