Photobiomodulation for the brain: has the light dawned?
 (Conference Presentation)

Michael R. Hamblin

doi:10.1117/12.2287529

14 March 2018 Photobiomodulation for the brain: has the light dawned? (Conference Presentation)

Michael R. Hamblin

Proceedings Volume 10477, Mechanisms of Photobiomodulation Therapy XIII; 1047702 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2287529
Event: SPIE BiOS, 2018, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Photobiomodulation (PBM) describes the use of red or near-infrared light to stimulate, heal, regenerate, and protect tissue that has either been injured, is degenerating, or else is at risk of dying. One of the organ systems of the human body that is most necessary to life, and whose optimum functioning is of most concern to humans in general, is the brain. The brain suffers from many different disorders that can be classified into three broad groupings: sudden events (stroke, traumatic brain injury, and global ischemia), degenerative diseases (dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s), and psychiatric disorders (depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder, autism). There is some evidence that all these seemingly diverse conditions can be beneficially affected by applying light to the head. There is even the possibility that PBM could be used for cognitive enhancement in normal healthy people. In this transcranial PBM (tPBM) application, near-infrared (NIR) light is often applied to the forehead because of the better penetration (no hair, longer wavelength). Some workers have used lasers, but recently the introduction of inexpensive light emitting diode (LED) arrays has allowed the development of light emitting helmets or “brain caps”. Transcranial LED light sources are ideally suited to be home use devices. This review will cover the mechanisms of action of photobiomodulation to the brain, and summarize some of the key pre-clinical studies and clinical trials that have been undertaken for diverse brain disorders.

Conference Presentation

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Michael R. Hamblin "Photobiomodulation for the brain: has the light dawned? (Conference Presentation)", Proc. SPIE 10477, Mechanisms of Photobiomodulation Therapy XIII, 1047702 (14 March 2018); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2287529

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KEYWORDS

Brain

Light emitting diodes

Alzheimer's disease

Traumatic brain injury

Dementia

Head

Ischemia

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