Intermittent Hypoxia in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis

Recent research has shown that AIH, characterized by brief episodes of reduced oxygen levels in the inspired air, has the potential to induce neural adaptations. These adaptations are suspected to influence several aspects of neuroplasticity, including the modulation of neurotransmitters and neurotrophic factors. Persons with MS typically exhibit greater cortical activation to achieve a given motor task compared to healthy controls, suggesting compensatory activations in motor cortices and the recruitment of additional non-motor regions for successful motor control. Therefore, interventions that promote adaptive neuroplasticity in motor control systems may induce a reduction in fMRI activation during motor tasks as well as an increase in functional connectivity between somatomotor cortices. This study will explore potential mechanisms of this intervention in MS using motor task performance and advanced neuroimaging techniques.