Transcranial Near Infrared Light Stimulations Improve Cognition in Patients with Dementia
Abstract
Dementia is a complex syndrome with various presentations depending on the underlying pathologies. Low emission of transcranial near-infrared (tNIR) light can reach human brain parenchyma and be beneficial to a number of neurological and neurodegenerative disorders. We hereby examined the safety and potential therapeutic benefits of tNIR light stimulations in the treatment of dementia. Patients of mild to moderate dementia were randomized into active and sham treatment groups at 2:1 ratio. Active treatment consisted of low power tNIR light stimulations with an active photobiomodulation for 6 min twice daily during 8 consequent weeks. Sham treatment consisted of same treatment routine with a sham device. Neuropsychological battery was obtained before and after treatment. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze outcomes. Sixty subjects were enrolled. Fifty-seven subjects completed the study and had not reported health or adverse side effects during or after the treatment. Three subjects dropped out from trial for health issues unrelated to use of tNIR light treatment. Treatment with active device resulted in improvements of cognitive functions and changes were: an average increase of MMSE by 4.8 points; Logical Memory Tests I and II by ~3.0 points; Trail Making Tests A and B by ~24%; Boston Naming Test by ~9%; improvement of both Auditory Verbal Learning Tests in all subtest categories and overall time of performance. Many patients reported improved sleep after ~7 days of treatment. Caregivers noted that patients had less anxiety, improved mood, energy, and positive daily routine after ~14-21 days of treatment. The tNIR light treatments demonstrated safety and positive cognitive improvements in patients with dementia. Developed treatment protocol can be conveniently used at home. This study suggests that additional dementia treatment trials are warranted with a focus on mitigating caregivers’ burden with tNIR light treatment of dementia patients.
Photobiomodulation with Near Infrared Light Helmet in a Pilot, Placebo Controlled Clinical Trial in Dementia Patients Testing Memory and Cognition
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a common, chronic expensive debilitating neurodegenerative disease with no current treatments to prevent the physical deterioration of the brain and the consequent cognitive deficits. The current pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease is the accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) of hyperphosphorylated tau protein and amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques. Antibody therapy of Tau and Amyloid beta, vaccines and other methods to decrease Tau and or Amyloid have not been successful after considerable pharmaceutical and biotech efforts. For example, Eli Lilly announced a major change to its closely watched clinical trial for the Alzheimer’s drug solanezumab which failed to reach statistical significance. Recently, a report on animal models using photomodulation with near infrared light to treat AD pathology in K369I tau transgenic model (K3) l engineered to develop neurofibrillary tangles, and the
APPs/PSEN1dE9 transgenic model (APP/PS1) to develop amyloid plaques. Mice were treated with NIR 20 times over a four-week period and NIR treatment (600-1000 nm) was associated with a reduction in the size and number of amyloid-β plaques in the neocortex and hippocampus. We now report a small pilot double blind, placebo-controlled trial (n=11) 6 active, 3 controls and 2 dropouts assessing the effect of 28 consecutive, six minute transcranial sessions of near infrared (NIR) stimulation using 1060-1080 nm light emitting diodes.
Subjects were independently diagnosed with dementia conducted in an outpatient behavioral healthcare clinic. IRB approval was obtained through the Quietmind Foundation’s institutional review Board (IRB). Results showed changes in executive functioning; clock drawing, immediate recall, praxis memory, visual attention and task switching (Trails A&B) as well as a trend of improved EEG amplitude and connectivity measures. Neuroplasticity has also been reported with NIR light stimulation and mitochondrial enhancement.
Improvements in clinical signs of Parkinson’s disease using photobiomodulation: a prospective proof of concept study
Abstract
Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with no cure and few treatment
options. Its incidence is increasing due to aging populations, longer disease duration and potentially as a COVID-19
sequela. Photobiomodulation (PBM) has been successfully used in animal models to reduce the signs of PD and to
protect dopaminergic neurons.
Objective: To assess the effectiveness of PBM to mitigate clinical signs of PD in a prospective proof-of-concept
study, using a combination of transcranial and remote treatment, in order to inform on best practice for a larger
randomized placebo-controlled trial (RCT).
Methods: Twelve participants with idiopathic PD were recruited. Six were randomly chosen to begin 12 weeks of
transcranial, intranasal, neck and abdominal PBM. The remaining 6 were waitlisted for 14 weeks before commencing
the same treatment. After the 12-week treatment period, all participants were supplied with PBM devices to
continue home treatment. Participants were assessed for mobility, fine motor skills, balance and cognition before
treatment began, after 4 weeks of treatment, after 12 weeks of treatment and the end of the home treatment
period. A Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test was used to assess treatment effectiveness at a significance level of 5%.
Results: Measures of mobility, cognition, dynamic balance and fine motor skill were significantly improved (p <
0.05) with PBM treatment for 12 weeks and up to one year. Many individual improvements were above the minimal
clinically important difference, the threshold judged to be meaningful for participants. Individual improvements
varied but many continued for up to one year with sustained home treatment. There was a demonstrable
Hawthorne Effect that was below the treatment effect. No side effects of the treatment were observed.
Remote Photobiomodulation Treatment for the Clinical Signs of Parkinson’s Disease: A Case Series Conducted During COVID-19
Abstract
Objective: To assess whether remote application of photobiomodulation (PBM) is effective in reducing clinical
signs of Parkinson’s disease (PD).
Background: PD is a progressive neurodegenerative disease for which there is no cure and few treatment
options. There is a strong link between the microbiome–gut–brain axis and PD. PBM in animal models can
reduce the signs of PD and protect the neurons from damage when applied directly to the head or to remote
parts of the body. In a clinical study, PBM has been shown to improve clinical signs of PD for up to 1 year.
Methods: Seven participants were treated with PBM to the abdomen and neck three times per week for 12
weeks. Participants were assessed for mobility, balance, cognition, fine motor skill, and sense of smell on
enrolment, after 12 weeks of treatment in a clinic and after 33 weeks of home treatment.
Results: A number of clinical signs of PD were shown to be improved by remote PBM treatment, including
mobility, cognition, dynamic balance, spiral test, and sense of smell. Improvements were individual to the
participant. Some improvements were lost for certain participants during at-home treatment, which coincided
with a number of enforced coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic lockdown periods.
Conclusions: Remote application of PBM was shown to be an effective treatment for a number of clinical signs
of PD, with some being maintained for 45 weeks, despite lockdown restrictions. Improvements in clinical signs
were similar to those seen with the application of remote plus transcranial PBM treatment in a previous study.
Clinical Trial Registration number: U1111-1205-2035.
Transcranial Photobiomodulation Treatment Effects in Former Athletes with Repetitive Head Hits
Concussion (i.e., mild traumatic brain injury) and repetitive sub-concussive head hits are recognized by the sports medicine community and society at large as a major
public health concern. Psychiatric and neurocognitive functioning disruption and sleep disturbance are associated with these injuries. Transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM) has been
proposed as a non-invasive treatment.
Download the PDF provided by the University of Utah »
Red/near-infrared irradiation therapy for treatment of central nervous system injuries and disorders
Irradiation in the red/near-infrared spectrum (R/NIR, 630–1000 nm) has been used to treat a wide range of clinical conditions, including disorders of the central nervous system (CNS), with several clinical trials currently underway for stroke and macular degeneration. However, R/NIR irradiation therapy (R/NIR-IT) has not been widely adopted in clinical practice for CNS injury or disease for a number of reasons, which include the following. The mechanism/s of action and implications of penetration have not been thoroughly addressed. The large range of treatment intensities, wavelengths and devices that have been assessed make comparisons difficult, and a consensus paradigm for treatment has not yet emerged. Furthermore, the lack of consistent positive outcomes in randomised controlled trials, perhaps due to sub-optimal treatment regimens, has contributed to scepticism. This review provides a balanced précis of outcomes described in the literature regarding treatment modalities and efficacy of R/NIR-IT for injury and disease in the CNS. We have addressed the important issues of specification of treatment parameters, penetration of R/NIR irradiation to CNS tissues and mechanism/s, and provided the necessary detail to demonstrate the potential of R/NIR-IT for the treatment of retinal degeneration, damage to white matter tracts of the CNS, stroke and Parkinson’s disease.
Read more on PubMed »
Update on Vielight for Treating Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease
Dr. Lew Lim discusses his new invention – the X-Plus photobiomodulation device and its potential application for symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s. It can be used in conjunction with the Vielight Neuro Gamma device that many listeners of Parkinson’s Recovery Radio have already been using.
Neurons are cells that contain mitochondria. Photobiomodulation energizes neuronal mitochondria, triggering a cascade of beneficial cellular functions. Potential benefits are neuroprotective effects, self-repair mechanisms, and enhanced function.
Vielight’s patented intranasal stimulation technology and microchip LED technology are innovative tools for brain photobiomodulation. Intranasal photobiomodulation is the most efficient method for light energy to reach the brain. Different from electrical and magnetic stimulation, photobiomodulation uses light energy (or photons) of specific wavelengths and power density to simulate cellular function.
Listen to the audio on blogtalkradio.com. »
Photobiomodulation Therapies in Parkinsons Disease
I recently aired fascinating interviews on Parkinson’s Recovery Radio about two different types of photobiomodulation therapies (light therapies) as treatments for Parkinson’s symptoms. I believe light therapies are the medicine of the future, so I am hopeful some of you will try one of these options out so we can get an early reading on their effectiveness. The purpose of this newsletter is to explain the difference between the two devices. One is offered by Vielight https://www.Vielight.com (discussed in my radio show October 4th); the other is offered by Erchonia https://www.erchonia.com (discussed in my radio show October 16th). How are the Two Light Therapy Devices Similar?
Read more on About Parkinson’s Disease Blog»
Preclinical Studies of Transcranial Photobiomodulation in the Neurological Diseases
Photobiomodulation (PBM) takes advantage of red and near-infrared light to induce therapeutic effects on various kinds of diseases, with transcranial PBM (tPBM) attracting most attention on neurological diseases. Displaying a noninvasive superiority over traditional treatment, tPBM is increasingly studied among research groups. Growing numbers of studies have been conducted in the last decade regarding neurological diseases; however, the research objects and lighting parameters among these papers varied from each other. This article introduces the biophotonics nature of PBM, records the experimental parameters of preclinical studies since 2014 and summarizes the application of tPBM on the neurobiological diseases in the past two decades. Under the summarized guidance of parameter setup, tPBM will be shining light in the prevention and treatment of neurological diseases.
Read more on Translational Biophotonics or download the PDF»