Red Light Therapy for Dementia: Why Has No One Told You?
The physical and emotional demands of dementia care often lead to sadness, insomnia, and headaches, according to the Mayo Clinic.
It’s hard enough to go from child to caregiver.
It’s a nightmare when the caregiver doesn’t recognize the paranoid and violent person the parent has become.
While there is a therapy that can help, you won’t hear about it from your doctor.
Red light therapy uses specific wavelengths of light to heal.
Since light is part of nature, no one can patent its use.
Red light therapy is competition for big pharma and won’t make medical device manufacturers a new fortune.
So you won’t hear about it from them.
In this article, I’ll give you the science so you can decide.
Share it with your doctor. Maybe you can teach them something.
Takeaways
- Red light therapy for dementia uses light to repair neural connections, generate new brain cells, and activate the brain plaque cleanup system.
- Thousands of studies confirm that people with dementia, Parkinson’s, stroke, and brain injury consistently improve with this treatment.
- It has had profound results in studies but won’t make anyone wealthy, so no one’s told your doctor it exists.
- Gains include:
- A measurable reduction in amyloid plaque and tau protein tangles in the brain
- The creation of new brain cells
- Increased neural connections
- An increase in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), essential to the creation of new brain cells
- An increase in autophagy that cleans the brain of toxins
- A switch from inflammatory (M2) to non-inflammatory (M1) autophagy
- A significant reduction in the intestinal flora associated with increased Alzheimer’s symptoms
- Word recall improvement
- Spontaneous hugging and smiling
- Decreased depression and anxiety
- Restored ability to follow instructions
- Restored ability to name and draw simple objects
- A reduction in the dementia score that correlates to the severity of the diagnosis
- Multiple studies, including meta-analyses, progression studies, symptom reduction studies, case reports, and neuropsychological and neuroimaging studies, have demonstrated significant improvements in memory, focus, mood, motor skills, and overall cognitive performance after red light therapy.
- Patients and studies reported improvements in decision-making, task-switching, recall, sleep quality, headaches, balance, gait, speech, and the ability to perform daily activities.
- Neuroimaging studies showed increased brain oxygenation, neural connectivity, and gray matter in specific brain regions after red light therapy.
- The positive effects of red light therapy appear to be temporary, with some patients experiencing a decline in their condition after discontinuing treatment.
Disclaimer
I am not a doctor. This is not medical advice.
Red Light Therapy for Dementia
Dementia is a nightmare. Photobiomodulation is the light.
This guide is for caregivers of those with dementia. It also applies, in large part, to those dealing with Parkinson’s and brain injury.
Photobiomodulation uses light to effect biological change.
Known as “red light therapy” outside of science journals, photobiomodulation is proven successful in many areas, including helping with dementia symptoms such as:
- Memory loss
- Personality change
- Paranoia
- Loss of basic life skills
- Angry outbursts
- Memory failures
- Unnecessary arguments
- Forgotten compromises
- Insomnia and sleeplessness
- Anxiety and grief
- Wandering
- Inability to smile
- Failure to show affection
Red light therapy uses red and infrared light to help the body and brain heal.
There are over 9,000 journal articles devoted to photobiomodulation.
Three light therapies can help with dementia symptoms.
Bright light therapy helps with depression.
Gamma therapy uses brainwave entrainment to alter brainwaves.
It is included in some red light therapy devices.
Bright Light Therapy is Not Bright Light Therapy
Bright Light Therapy helps relieve depression, but the “SAD” (Seasonal Affective Disorder) lamps do not output the wavelengths studied in brain light studies.
You will know a “bright light therapy” lamp because it outputs “10,000 lux.”
That is, it is very bright.
40 Hz “Gamma” Lamps are not Red Light Therapy
40 Hz Gamma lamps take the pulsing part of some photobiomodulation devices.
This can help entrain brain waves to desired states but does not send light to the brain to revitalize tissue.
Hair Growth Caps Are Not Brain Lights
Hair restoration helmets and hats are helpful red light therapy devices for growing hair, but they are not powerful enough for the light to reach the brain.
Why You Should Trust This Brain Therapy Guide
Hi, my name is Caroline Bogart, and I am obsessed with light therapy.
I stumbled upon using light for healing while researching whether cell phones are potentially harmful (they are).
Your Disbelief is Welcome. Please Keep Reading.
At first blush, the claims of red light therapy are hard to believe.
The treatment works for everything from improving memory to creating collagen.
Surely, this could not be real.
When in Doubt, Read the Science
I decided to read about the science of red light therapy.
I couldn’t find it, temporarily leading me to believe red light therapy is a scam.
Marketers call it “red light therapy,” but scientists call it “photobiomodulation.”
I often see people on forums report that “there’s no science” about red light therapy, which is, therefore, an obvious scam.
Maybe they cannot find the science because they use the wrong keywords.
They are more likely to find the science using these search terms:
- photobiomodulation
- low-level light therapy
- low-level laser therapy
- cold laser
Many other terms apply, but these are the most used in scientific journals.
I have found thousands of photobiomodulation studies in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) database.
The Powerful and Overwhelming Science of Photobiomodulation
The crazy part is how many studies confirm that red light therapy correlates with healthier bodies and brains.
Over 9,000 studies, case reports, and meta-analyses exist, and the vast majority support using red light therapy for health.
I Created Two Red Light Therapy Websites
I found so much credible evidence supporting red light therapy that I devoted my EMF Channel website to analyzing and sharing the science of red light therapy.
I have written hundreds of thousands of words, translating photobiomodulation science into actionable information so that people can read my articles and use what they find to improve their health.
I have summarized over 400 studies and written guides on how to use red light therapy to alleviate symptoms of:
- dementia
- brain injury
- concussion
- stroke
- acne
- wrinkles
- rosacea
- osteoarthritis
- rheumatoid arthritis
- poorly fused bone breaks
- skin wounds
I have created and published free tools to help people use their light therapy devices to emulate the treatment doses found in published studies.
I also answer light therapy questions on Quora, Reddit, and Facebook.
I Have a Vested Interest in Photobiomodulation
I am an affiliate of some companies mentioned in this article.
I might benefit from your purchase if you use my links or coupons.
I also have a stake in preserving and rescuing my brain before too much old age damage sets in.
Neurological decay is an emotional and financial nightmare.
Brain health photobiomodulation devices are tested, FDA-approved for sale, and available without a prescription.
Red light therapy triggers neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, and cellular energy (ATP). These lead to better memory, more sleep, and less anxiety.
I think we should be screaming from the rooftops about this amazing technology. It’s time everyone knew about it.
Dementia is a nightmare, and photobiomodulation is the light.
Why Red Light Therapy Hasn’t Had a Ticker Tape Parade
If red light therapy is 1/10th as amazing as I have gushed on about so far, then why doesn’t everyone know about it and use it?
“Why Haven’t I Heard of Red Light Therapy?”
Dr. Marvin Berman is a neurofeedback specialist. He runs brain photobiomodulation clinical trials.
The results in his and other brain trials yield 5% to 65% cognitive test gains.
I asked him, “Why doesn’t everyone have a brain light?”
Just like the psychologist he is, he put the question back on me: “You know the answer to that,” he said.
Marvin is more diplomatic than I am, so allow me to interpret the answer in my own words.
If a good treatment is not in the marketplace, follow the money.
Large investors need patents to protect their profits.
Photobiomodulation threatens profitable treatments or is not patentable enough for one or two corporations to make a killing.
Photobiomodulation Makes Existing Medications More Effective
Berman is much more hopeful than I am.
He says that dementia and Parkinson’s medications work well combined with photobiomodulation and that conventional pharmaceuticals work better with photobiomodulation.
He says we should combine photobiomodulation, neurofeedback, and pharmaceutical treatments rather than choose one or the other.
“Neurofeedback and photobiomodulation will improve their drugs,” he explained.
How the Government Silences Good Treatments to Protect Us from Bad Ones
The drug industry created the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in response to congressional threats to reign in bogus medical claims.
The medical industry responded to the threat by saying, “Hey, we will police ourselves,” and the FDA was born.
The FDA’s job is to protect us from medical fraud.
One of its methods is to squelch speech that might convince an unsuspecting consumer that a bad treatment is a good one.
I admit this is a worthy goal, but I have also seen its tremendous downside.
By limiting speech about the effect a device or drug can have, the FDA also prevents the public from learning about worthwhile therapies.
To gain the right to use words like “heal” and “cure,” pharmaceutical and medical device companies spend millions of dollars jumping through the FDA’s hoops.
Only extremely wealthy industries can afford to go through this process.
This is another reason you have not heard about red light therapy.
While the FDA protects you from unsubstantiated claims, it also prevents you from learning about therapies backed by too little money to buy the right to legally discuss the benefits of using these therapies.
Science backs the photobiomodulation claims.
Thousands of studies back up what I will show you in this guide.
The photobiomodulation device industry lacks the millions of dollars required to conduct medical device trials in a manner acceptable to federal regulatory authorities.
Therefore, I will show you what the science says and links to the original journal articles.
You can decide whether this technology is worth your money and time.
You need to know about this technology.
I need to tell you in a way that regulators find acceptable.
Let’s begin.
Efficacy
Dementia symptom improvements in red light therapy trials and case reports include:
- Improved mood
- Less aggression
- Improved memory
- Greater brain blood flow
- Quicker understanding
- More accurate recall
- More accurate situational awareness
Safety
Reasons for caution include photosensitivity, epilepsy, pregnancy, cancer, and eye disorders.
Weigh these risks against traditional drug therapy side effects and red light therapy benefits for people with dementia (as well as brain injury):
People with the following issues should consult with their doctor before using light.
Epilepsy
People with epilepsy and/or seizure disorders should consult with their doctors before doing “pulsing” light therapy.
The pulsing can trigger seizures. Common pulse rates in brain lights are 10 Hz and 40 Hz.
Photosensitive Medications
Light therapy can trigger rashes, itching, and swelling in people taking photosensitive medications.
Consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Cancer
Whether a person with tumors or cancer should use therapy is controversial. It certainly alleviates mucositis and other radiation/chemo side effects. Consult your doctor.
Eye Disorders
Red light therapy improves vision and mitochondrial eye diseases, but it’s still important to check in with an ophthalmologist before using light when one has an eye disorder.
See my article One Test to See if You Need Red Light Therapy Goggles.
This is usually not a problem with dementia devices that shine light on the head and not the eyes.
Should you use another type of device, though, consider precautions.
Red and infrared wavelengths are safe, but bright light is not.
If you squint, then you should wear eye protection.
Blue light alters the circadian rhythm by suppressing melatonin.
Bright light therapy includes blue light, which helps one wake up in the morning.
Pregnancy and Nursing
Red light therapy is probably safe and helpful for pregnant women and nursing mothers, but no trials are bearing that opinion.
Protocol
Studies show that red light therapy works directly and systemically.
The direct effect involves shining light on the head to shine light on the brain.
The systemic effect involves shining light anywhere else on the face and body to irradiate blood that eventually reaches the brain.
Proven systemic effects come from shining the light on the gut and vagus nerve.
Device Effectiveness
Dedicated devices shine a light to obtain the direct effect where a small percentage penetrates brain tissue.
Only a small amount of light passes through the obstacles between the scalp and the brain, but that is enough to create major changes.
Because the penetration rate is so low, a household lamp is unlikely to achieve the same penetration.
A dedicated light on the scalp gets up to 4% of its light to the tissue.
A household lamp that does not touch the skin of the scalp has little chance of emitting light that reaches brain tissue.
Wavelengths
Proven dementia therapy wavelengths center in the near-infrared range.
Near-infrared wavelengths 810 nm and 1070 nm (and those wavelengths near these targets) create the therapeutic effects.
Red wavelengths between 630 nm and 660 nm create therapeutic systemic effects.
The theory is these wavelengths irradiate free-floating mitochondria that travel in the blood to the brain.
Household lighting does not concentrate wavelengths in these tested areas.
Device Type
The device should shine directly onto the scalp to reach the brain tissue.
Dedicated device types for dementia include a helmet, a headset, and a wrap.
Many people ask me about red light helmets for dementia.
I have not seen good evidence for their use.
Unfortunately, measurements indicate that the helmets you might consider do not meet their stated specifications.
I chose not to include reviews of red light therapy helmets for dementia until these situations improve.
Two viable choices include the Vielight Neuro Vagus Combo (and other headsets in the Vielight Neuro line) and the Nushape Neuropulse PRO.
Studies
Something amazing is happening in brain injury, dementia, and Parkinson’s research, but no one seems to know about it. Print this article to show red light therapy to your doctor.
Table: Vielight Neuro Alpha, Gamma, and Duo Features
Here are the devices that were studied.
Alpha | Gamma | Vielight Duo and Nushape Neuropulse PRO | |
Brain Injury | |||
Traumatic Brain Injury | |||
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy | |||
Concussion | |||
Dementia | |||
Alzheimer's | |||
Parkinson's | |||
Huntington's | |||
MC Impairment | |||
IMPROVED | |||
General Brain Health | |||
Cognitive Ability | |||
Memory | |||
Calm | |||
Sleep | |||
Stress Recovery | |||
Relaxation | |||
Meditation | |||
Focus | |||
Learning | |||
Mental Acuity | |||
Mental Coordination | |||
Creativity | |||
Advanced Meditation | |||
Microtubules Health | |||
Cerebral Blood Flow | |||
ATP | |||
Brain Blood Flow | |||
Vasodilation | |||
Reduced Neuroinflammation | |||
Coupon | EMFCHANNEL 10% OFF | EMFCHANNEL 10% OFF | EMFCHANNEL 10% OFF at Vielight and code RED for $50 at TheTherapyWrap.com for the Neuropulse |
2018 Meta-Analysis
This 2018 review of red light therapy studies is an excellent jumping-off point for those who want to read the science for themselves.
Dr. Salehpour carefully explains the mechanisms and effects of red light therapy on dementia, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s and brain injury.
Here are just some of the effects that this paper summarizes:
- Shining therapeutic light on the gut resulted in a positive impact on the brain.
- The light improved healthy brainwave patterns. An increase in coordinated neural firing correlates with improved cognitive function.
- Studies on cadavers, animals, and brain surgery patients quantified how much light reaches brain tissue.
- Therapy improved the speed and accuracy of the subjects’ physical movements.
- Several studies documented a reduction in the startle response, anger, depression, and anxiety symptoms.
- Subjects were less likely to initiate unwanted wandering.
- Treated subjects showed improved decision-making skills.
- Fine motor skills improved after light exposure.
- Treated subjects were better able to switch tasks.
- MRI studies showed improved brain oxygenation correlated with red light therapy.
- Imaging studies showed new neural connections in treated subjects.
- Treated subjects held focus on a task significantly longer after therapy.
- Subjects learned more material and held onto the new information longer.
- The ability to gesture, walk, and manipulate objects improved.
- Mitochondria powering brain activity produced more adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy currency used for repair.
- Short and long-term recall increased in treated subjects.
- Subjects who worked reported their jobs were easier to perform.
- Treated subjects fell asleep faster and stayed asleep longer. One case report included a 100% reduction in nightmare occurrences.
- Subjects reported less confusion and sleepiness.
- Subjects reported a reduction in the severity and frequency of headaches.
- Parkinson’s patients demonstrated less freezing and improved balance, gait, speech, and movement.
- Subjects who reported less alcohol consumption had higher intrinsic dopamine levels.
- Subjects were better able to find words, name objects, and understand others.
- A coma patient responded to red light therapy by moving a finger.
2021 Progression Study
Researchers studied the effects of red light therapy on patients with Parkinson’s disease in a 2021 study.
Twelve Parkinson’s patients, an average of 67.6 years old, participated in this study. Six received treatment and six acted as a control group. For forty weeks, they received one to three treatments per week.
Parkinson’s disease progresses typically rapidly, so one would expect a significant decline in forty weeks.
None of the treated subjects showed the typical declines expected during that time.
Not only did they not decline, but they also had improvements in multiple movement and cognitive areas. These included improvements in:
- balance
- mobility
- stepping
- motor skills
- walking speed
- stride length
There were no side effects.
2021 Symptom Reduction Study (Dementia, Parkinson’s)
Researchers studied red light therapy on 40 dementia patients in a 2021 study. A large sub-group of the dementia patients also had Parkinson’s disease.
Subjects receiving real therapy scored 21% better on the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE). They were more accurate in answering questions such as “What month is this?” and “Where are we?”
The Clock Drawing test asks subjects to draw a clock with numerals and hands. Before therapy, subjects drew unfinished circles, unreadable numerals and often left out the clock’s hands. Post-treatment subjects were 20.5% more accurate in their drawings.
The Trail Making test asks subjects to draw a continuous line on paper connecting pre-determined points. This is a “focus” task because it requires the subjects to stay in the present moment. Subjects treated with red light therapy scored 23.5% better than their pre-treatment scores.
The Boston Naming Test asks subjects to name simple objects pictured in a standardized layout. Treated subjects were 35.3% better at naming objects after therapy.
2020 Case Report (Concussion)
In the case report of a professional hockey player who had experienced at least six concussions before starting Vielight Neuro Gamma therapy. Co-author Dr. Lew Lim is the founder and CEO of Vielight, Inc., and Vielight funded this case report.
“Jean” was a professional hockey player with anxiety, focus, and concentration issues.
He had previously tried acupuncture and hyperbaric chamber treatments in an attempt to lessen the severity of his symptoms.
Jean reported not feeling as sharp as he would like.
Dr. Lim started Jean on the Vielight Neuro Gamma, but this appeared to cause mild headaches.
He then switched Jean to the Vielight Neuro Alpha.
The lower pulsation pattern of the Alpha worked well for Jean.
Jean self-treated with the Alpha red light therapy device.
The total treatment time was eight weeks before the follow-up.
Jean’s neuro-psych scores increased after two months of red light therapy pulsing at 10 Hz.
Imaging showed increased blood flow and oxygen through the brain.
Jean had increased gray matter in the cortical, frontal lobe, temporal lobe, occipital lobe, and hippocampus areas.
2019 Neuropsych and MRI Study (Dementia)
Dr. Linda Chao is a neuroimaging researcher at the University of California.
Her lab tested the effects of the Vielight Neuro Gamma on four subjects and four controls. This was a pilot study to justify larger subject pools in future subjects.
The average subject age was 79.8 years old. The participants entered the study with Alzheimer’s or other dementia diagnoses.
The researchers administered multiple neuropsychological tests to get a baseline before treatment with Vielight or a sham device for the control group.
During treatment, the researchers studied the subjects’ brains using magnetic resonance imaging to measure oxygenation.
At the start of the study, the subjects’ brains had substantially equivalent amounts of neural connectivity and oxygen.
The subjects received Vielight Neuro Gamma treatment thrice a week for 12 weeks.
At this three-month point, researchers administered the neuropsych tests a second time.
The control group had a statistically significant decline in their cognitive test scores. Neuroimaging showed their brain connectivity and oxygen were lower than the baseline.
The treatment group scored statistically higher on their neuropsych tests.
This group had more neural connectivity, though the change over baseline was not statistically significant.
Dr. Chao wrote that the treatment group had “increased functional connectivity between the posterior cingulate cortex and lateral parietal nodes within the” default mode network of the brain.
There were no side effects.
2017 Case Studies (Dementia)
In a 2017 case report, researchers reported the effects of Vielight Neuro Alpha and Vielight 810 on mild to severe dementia patients.
The Neuro Alpha delivers light to the default mode network. The Vielight 810 irradiates the capillary network above the nose.
The combination gave patients four transcranial touchpoints and two intranasal applications. Both devices pulse at 10 Hz, which is in the alpha brainwave range.
Researchers assessed the patients after 12 weeks of therapy. Subjects had statistically significant improvements in mood and neuropsych scores.
Subjects then declined during and after a four-week no-treatment period.
This showed that the good effects wear off after a period.
One subject’s family asked that he return earlier than planned to the treatment phase.
The researchers obliged but had to remove him from the study.
There were no side effects during this study.
30% MMSE Improvement
“Emma” was a 71-year-old with a severe dementia diagnosis, according to the mini-mental status exam (MMSE).
She reported at intake that her head felt too heavy to hold up and that she had a headache.
Emma’s caregiver described her as anxious. She did not want to clean, cook, or interact with her family.
The assessor noted that Emma did not initiate conversation and appeared apprehensive.
At the second assessment after three months of red light therapy, Emma scored 30% higher on the MMSE. This moved her diagnosis from severe dementia to moderate dementia.
Emma reported that her head felt lighter, and her headache disappeared.
Emma’s caregiver noted that Emma was volunteering to cook and clean.
Emma liked going for walks and successfully answered the phone because she was more talkative.
The assessor noted that Emma hugged her upon arriving for her follow-up meeting and was smiling.
Without prompting, Emma offered the assessor a recipe she recalled from memory.
Drop From Severe to Moderate Dementia
“Joe” was a 90-year-old with severe dementia, according to his MMSE.
Joe’s caregiver noted that he needed assistance with mobility, dressing, and hygiene. Joe had been incontinent six of the previous seven nights.
He also noted that Joe spent little to no time with his family.
At the 3-month assessment, Joe took the MMSE a second time.
This time, he scored “moderate” on the dementia MMSE scale.
He spontaneously mentioned feeling better and happier with his caregiver and family.
Joe’s caregiver said that Joe’s incontinence fell from six nights a week to two. Joe occasionally dressed himself and spoke with his family.
Joe’s gains fell off during the four weeks of no red light therapy.
Joe regressed and became angry and uncooperative. He needed help dressing and could not follow simple conversations.
Joe’s family asked the researchers to restart treatment before the 4 weeks were finished.
The researchers gave Joe a Vielight Neuro Alpha for home use.
Increased Socialization
“Louis” was a 76-year-old with mild dementia on the MMSE scale.
He did not offer any information to the assessor.
The caregiver said she was unsure of the quality of Louis’ memory.
The assessor noted that Louis denied having memory issues. Louis said that he read and listened to the news.
After 12 weeks of Vielight Alpha and 810 red light therapy, Louis admitted that he had experienced memory issues. In other words, he remembered that he had been forgetting.
Louis said that the post-treatment neuropsychology test questions were easier to answer this time. Louis’ caregiver noted that Louis started socializing and reading more during the red light therapy treatment.
Louis’ MMSE score rose from 21 to 23.
Return to Hobbies
“Michael” was a 72-year-old with mild dementia. He had not engaged in his artistic hobbies and agreed when asked that he had been more forgetful lately.
Michael’s caregiver described Michael as someone who used to be outgoing and humorous.
He now seemed less happy and was becoming more forgetful. Michael still drove, but only on familiar roads.
The caregiver stated that Michael often misplaced items around the home. However, he could still cook, and he had a part-time job.
After three months of Vielight therapy, Michael’s MMSE score rose from 22 to 24, reducing the severity of his dementia diagnosis.
Michael reported that he had resumed his sculpture artwork. The caregiver noted that Michael was less forgetful, less dependent, and generally happier.
Of the eight subjects in this report, Michael was the only subject who did not lose his gains during the four-week no-treatment period.
Cognition Score Rises 4 Points
“Pablo” was a 73-year-old with mild dementia. He said he lived a full life with his wife but that his future felt scary.
The assessor noted that Pablo was aware of his memory loss, as he remarked on the difficulty he was having with the neuropsychological tests.
After twelve weeks of therapy, Pablo’s MMSE rose from 24 to 28 points. He said his world had “more color” and that he remembered tasks better.
During the red light therapy treatment period, Pablo returned to helping his wife in the garden and resumed his oil painting hobby.
Pablo’s caregiver was pleased with Pablo’s changes. The assessor noted that Pablo was less hesitant during testing and showed his sense of humor.
Conclusion
Red light therapy represents a promising, non-invasive approach to managing and potentially improving cognitive function in individuals with various neurological conditions, including dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and brain injuries.
The accumulating evidence from multiple studies highlights the potential of this therapy to positively impact cognitive performance, reduce symptoms, and potentially slow disease progression.
Research findings demonstrate significant improvements in memory, focus, mood, motor skills, and overall cognitive function after treatment with red light therapy.
Neuroimaging shows increased brain oxygenation, neural connectivity, and even gray matter growth in specific brain regions.
Doctors learning of these studies might want to assist patients with acquiring red light therapy for brain injury, Parkinson’s, and dementia.
References
intestinal flora: Chen Q, Wu J, Dong X, Yin H, Shi X, Su S, Che B, Li Y, Yang J. Gut flora-targeted photobiomodulation therapy improves senile dementia in an Aß-induced Alzheimer’s disease animal model. J Photochem Photobiol B. 2021 Mar;216:112152. doi: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2021.112152. Epub 2021 Feb 10. PMID: 33610085.
2018 meta-analysis: Salehpour F, Mahmoudi J, Kamari F, Sadigh-Eteghad S, Rasta SH, Hamblin MR. Brain Photobiomodulation Therapy: a Narrative Review. Mol Neurobiol. 2018 Aug;55(8):6601-6636. doi: 10.1007/s12035-017-0852-4. Epub 2018 Jan 11. PMID: 29327206; PMCID: PMC6041198.
Parkinson’s Progression: Liebert A, Bicknell B, Laakso EL, Heller G, Jalilitabaei P, Tilley S, Mitrofanis J, Kiat H. Improvements in clinical signs of Parkinson’s disease using photobiomodulation: a prospective proof-of-concept study. BMC Neurol. 2021 Jul 2;21(1):256. doi: 10.1186/s12883-021-02248-y. PMID: 34215216; PMCID: PMC8249215.
Symptom Reduction: Nizamutdinov D, Qi X, Berman MH, Dougal G, Dayawansa S, Wu E, Yi SS, Stevens AB, Huang JH. Transcranial Near Infrared Light Stimulations Improve Cognition in Patients with Dementia. Aging Dis. 2021 Jul 1;12(4):954-963. doi: 10.14336/AD.2021.0229. PMID: 34221541; PMCID: PMC8219492.
Concussion: Chao LL, Barlow C, Karimpoor M, Lim L. Changes in Brain Function and Structure After Self-Administered Home Photobiomodulation Treatment in a Concussion Case. Front Neurol. 2020 Sep 8;11:952. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00952. PMID: 33013635; PMCID: PMC7509409.
Neuropsych: Chao LL. Effects of Home Photobiomodulation Treatments on Cognitive and Behavioral Function, Cerebral Perfusion, and Resting-State Functional Connectivity in Patients with Dementia: A Pilot Trial. Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg. 2019 Mar;37(3):133-141. doi: 10.1089/photob.2018.4555. Epub 2019 Feb 13. PMID: 31050950.
Case Study: Saltmarche AE, Naeser MA, Ho KF, Hamblin MR, Lim L. Significant Improvement in Cognition in Mild to Moderately Severe Dementia Cases Treated with Transcranial Plus Intranasal Photobiomodulation: Case Series Report. Photomed Laser Surg. 2017 Aug;35(8):432-441. doi: 10.1089/pho.2016.4227. Epub 2017 Feb 10. PMID: 28186867; PMCID: PMC5568598.
