FAQ - Brain & Performance Centre

FAQs

• What is the Brain & Performance Programme?
  What is the Brain & Performance Programme?

  The Brain & Performance Programme is a unique regimen that begins with comprehensive, in-depth assessments of brain and body function. The results of these assessments are the basis for developing a strategically tailored, client-specific treatment plan targeted for personal improvement goals. Treatment plans include highly specialized HBOT sessions, augmented by cognitive and physical training, as well as nutritional and lifestyle coaching. The combination of our oxygen therapy and the training activities personally tailored for you inside and outside of the Hyperbaric Suite pushes you towards your peak performance. Our clients experience increased energy, improved physical performance, enhanced memory, improved cognitive function, and improved sexual performance (in men). To meet each person’s individual needs and to accurately track their progress, Brain & Performance Centre employs the latest in monitoring technologies throughout the duration of the Programme. We provide a comprehensive report of physical and cognitive health pre and post-treatment, so that you can see your improvement clearly. A client of Brain & Performance Centre is a client for life, if you would like, we continue to monitor your performance long after the programme has ended, and we continue to send you periodic updates on a variety of health and wellness issues.

• Has the Brain & Performance Programme been tested?
  Has the Brain & Performance Centre Programme been tested?

  The Brain & Performance Programme was developed over a 12-year period by the Brain & Performance Centre team and Dr Shai Efrati, Director of the Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research. The Shamir Medical Center and Dr Efrati have treated over 7,500 people and carried out over 200,000 HBOT sessions.

• Are you a new company?
  Are you a new company?

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  No, we have been in Dubai since 2021 providing medical treatments that are based on nearly two decades of research. As a DP World company, we have built strong roots in this community from the day we opened our doors.

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• For whom is the Brain & Performance Program intended?
  For whom is the Brain & Performance Program intended?

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  Our clientele come to us from around the world with a variety of neurological conditions, or to improve their cognitive and physical performance to stay at their peak, or regain their edge. In adult clients, we treat stroke, post-concussion syndrome, fibromyalgia, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, long COVID, Lyme disease, and age-related cognitive and physical decline. Our youth clients come to us to treat some forms of autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, post-concussion syndrome and stroke.

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• Who administers the treatments?
  Who administers the treatments?

  Treatments are administered by a multidisciplinary team of certified healthcare professionals, including physicians, neuroscientists, neuropsychologists, physical therapists, nurses, exercise physiologists, and nutrition coaches. This team is overseen locally by the Medical Director and Head Neurologist. Each client file is managed by the Client’s dedicated Brain & Performance Centre Physician and Advanced Nurse Practitioner.

• Which cognitive capabilities can the Brain & Performance Program improve?
  Which cognitive capabilities can the Brain & Performance Program improve?

  The Brain & Performance Programme targets the main cognitive domains known to decline during aging, including memory, attention, speed of information processing, multi-tasking and executive skills.

• Which physical attributes can the Brain & Performance Program improve?
  Which physical attributes can the Brain & Performance Program improve?

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  The Brain & Performance Programme is aimed to improve physiological domains such as aerobic performance and capacity, overall fitness, body composition, muscle mass, energy levels, sleep quality, as well as gait and overall balance.

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• How long do the treatments take?
  How long do the treatments take?

  As you can well imagine enhancing cognitive and physical capabilities cannot be done overnight. Rather, it requires a cumulative and uninterrupted process to achieve maximum success. As such, the Brain & Performance Programme takes time and requires strict compliance. We begin with three days of intensive assessments, at the end of which we’ll share a comprehensive report identifying your baseline cognitive and physical performance. This report also serves as the basis for developing your personalized care plan. This plan will include HBO Therapy, as well as cognitive and physical training, and nutritional coaching. Your HBOT sessions will take approximately two hours per day, five days a week, for 12 weeks. Two to three times a week, your time at the Clinic is increased to 2.5 hours to allow you to participate in additional on-site training as assigned by your healthcare team.

• How long do results last?
  How long do results last?

  The longevity of results varies from one individual to the next, and depends on the person’s individual biology, way of life and adherence to all of the Programme’s components during and following treatment (mainly nutrition and physical activity). The Brain & Performance Centre Wearable Device and cognitive training App allow us – with your permission – to track and monitor your physical and cognitive performance over time.

• How does Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy work?
  How does Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy work?

  During Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), 100% oxygen is inhaled while in a room pressurised above 1.3 atmospheres absolute; while the air pressure in our normal environment is 1 atmosphere. During this process the amount of oxygen that reaches the body’s tissues and organs increases 10-15-fold compared to breathing in a normal environment. We have developed a novel Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy protocol, based on over 10 years of scientific studies and clinical work. In addition to increasing the amount of oxygen disseminated in your body, during treatments this protocol involves intermittent and precise fluctuations in your body’s oxygen levels to help awaken the body’s natural rejuvenation potential.

• Is HBOT something new?
  Is HBOT something new?

  Standard protocol Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy has been around for more than 60 years. It is administered in hospitals regularly for 14 indications and primarily used to help heal wounds (like diabetic wounds), and combat diving accidents.

• What atmospheric pressure does the oxygen go to?
  What atmospheric pressure does the oxygen go to?

  The current standard in most hyperbaric oxygen centers is 2.4 ATA pressure. In our Clinics, the pressure reaches 2.0 ATA to reduce the risk of any side effects. You can learn more in scientific literature published by Sagol Center.

• What are the risks and potential side effects?
  What are the risks and potential side effects?

  HBOT has been used safely for many years. Potential side effects are low-risk and relatively rare, these include: 1. Temporary change in vision or visual acuity HBOT treatments can temporarily change the shape of the eye’s lens as higher oxygenation affect all organs and tissues in the body. Temporarily, myopia (near-sightedness) may become worse, and presbyopia (the inability to focus on objects near the eye due to age-related changes) may improve. 2. Discomfort to ears during the hyperbaric process. Because the hyperbaric suite is pressurized, clients – particularly those who have difficulty equalizing the pressure in their ears – may experience mild ear discomfort (similar to when a plane is taking off or landing). This is temporary and resolves quickly after treatment. If discomfort persists, there is a risk of damage to the ears and sinuses. We assess and seek to reduce these risks as part of your comprehensive intake process. A qualified health provider is present at all times in the hyperbaric suite, to monitor patient comfort and treatment reactions, and respond quickly to any challenges. 3. In very rare cases, standard HBOT patients have experienced toxicity to the lungs or to the central nervous system. At Brain & Performance Centre, we use a specially designed protocol which incorporates breaks from breathing 100% pure oxygen, to deliver enhanced HBOT while reducing the risk of adverse side effects. The prevalence of such potential side effects is rare due to our advanced safety protocol and professional clinical staff. Because your safety is paramount, a nurse will accompany you at each step of your treatment journey.

• Can HBOT induce cancer?
  Can HBOT induce cancer?

  No. Clinical and pre-clinical testing have shown that hyperbaric treatment cannot induce or accelerate cancer. Moreover, one of the official uses of hyperbaric medicine is the treatment of cancer patients who have suffered post-radiation treatment injuries. There is no evidence of any acceleration or influence on cancer in these cases.

• How is the Brain & Performance Centre Hyperbaric Suite different from a mono-place chamber or single chamber?
  How is the Brain & Performance Centre Hyperbaric Suite different from a mono-place chamber or single chamber?

  A mono-place or single HBOT chamber accommodates only one person and is usually in the shape of a body length tube. At Brain & Performance Centre, we use large, state-of-the-art multi-patient Suites which can comfortably accommodate up to 14 people in comfortable private jet like seats. The major disadvantage of most mono place chambers is that the chamber is pressurized using pure oxygen, which makes it difficult to create fluctuations in the oxygen levels during treatments – an important factor in maximizing cognitive and physical improvement. Mono-place chambers also pose a higher risk level than large multi-patient Suites, as the patient has no direct access to their medical team in case of an emergency. Lying on your back for an extended period in the small closed space of a mono-place chamber can be claustrophobic for patients. Finally, it is impossible to perform any physical activity in a mono-place chamber, and technology, accessories or external materials cannot be brought in. In the large multi-patient Suites used by Brain & Performance Centre, clients can carry out various activities during HBOT, including tablet lead cognitive exercises, mild physical exercise and stretching. Home-based, inflatable single mono-place chambers in most cases do not provide pressure over 1.3 ATA, cannot benefit from the fluctuation protocol and do not deliver pure medical grade oxygen. Brain & Performance Centre's custom-designed Hyperbaric Oxygen Suites comfortably fit up to 14 clients and an onboard nurse for maximum safety. Each client sits in their own customizable station, and can read, listen to music or work on a tablet. Our technology and innovations make for a much superior client experience, and at the same time allow us to safely and effectively fluctuate the levels of oxygen provided during treatment, helping awaken the body’s natural rejuvenation potential while channeling the rejuvenation to your personal problem areas.

• Is HBOT approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration?
  Is HBOT approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration?

  HBOT is approved by the FDA for 13 clinical indications such as wound healing, smoke inhalation, diving accidents and more. The Brain & Performance Programme for cognitive enhancements is currently not an approved indication by the FDA but can be legally administered to clients provided the HBO Treatment is prescribed and managed by authorized physicians.

• What does the Brain & Performance Centre treatment experience feel like?
  What does the Brain & Performance Centre treatment experience feel like?

  You can expect a completely personalized experience in safe and modern cutting-edge facilities. You will benefit from the latest medical technologies, and warm personalised service from a very well trained and professional team. Most people find that sitting in the Brain & Performance Centre Hyperbaric Suite feels a lot like flying in first class. As with take-off and landing, you may experience some mild discomfort in your ears, but your overall experience will be at the highest levels. Brain & Performance Centre’s Hyperbaric Suites are designed not only to maximize the results of the Brain & Performance Program, but also to maximize your comfort and enjoyment, with luxurious customized seating spaces. Custom-built by the world-leading provider of hyperbaric equipment, Brain & Performance Centre’s treatment Suites are among the largest and most sophisticated worldwide. Each client is provided with a personalized interactive tablet and is accompanied by professional staff throughout treatment.

• How can I get in touch with Brain & Performance Centre Dubai by DP World?
  How can I get in touch with Brain & Performance Centre Dubai by DP World?

  Please call us on: Within UAE: 800-2848 Outside UAE: +971 4 437 1000 [email protected]