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.

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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?

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In our previous study, the low-level laser (LLL) stimulation at the palm with a stimulation frequency of 10 Hz was able to induce significant brain activation in normal subjects. The electroencephalography (EEG) changes caused by the stimulation of light-emitting diode (LED) in normal subjects have not been investigated. This study aimed at identifying the effects of LED stimulation on the human brain using EEG analysis. Moreover, the dosage has been raised 4 times than that in the previous LLL study. The LED array stimulator (6 pcs LEDs, central wavelength 850 nm, output power 30 mW, and operating frequency 10 Hz) was used as the stimulation source. The LED stimulation was found to induce significant variation in alpha activity in the occipital, parietal, and temporal regions of the brain. Compared to the previous low-level laser study, LED has similar effects on EEG in alpha (8-12 Hz) activity. Theta (4-7 Hz) power significantly increased in the posterior head region of the brain. The effect lasted for at least 15 minutes after stimulation ceased. Conversely, beta (13-35 Hz) intensity in the right parietal area increased significantly, and a biphasic dose response has been observed in this study.

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