Although continuous hypobaric IH exposures can promote BDNF expression and improve cognitive performance (Zhu et al., 2010), the ability of cyclic normobaric IHT to augment the brain's EPO and BDNF expression in the setting of nascent AD, and whether IHT-enhanced EPO and BDNF expression is associated with improved learning-memory function, is unknown. The gene discussed is EPO; the disease is Alzheimer disease.