Therapeutic Effects of Near Infrared Light Stimulation on Cognitive and Behaviour Symptoms of Dementia
Authors: Nizamutdinov Damir , Qi Xiaoming , Berman Marvin H. , Dougal Gordon , Huang Jason H. 
Published: April 2020

Introduction

Photobiomodulation (PBM) in treatment of Neurodegenerative diseases currently gets a lot of scientific and medical attention. Such observations in recent studies show how Near‐Infrared (NIR) light brain applications in animals improve cell viability, stimulate proteins expression known to be responsible for stress‐protection, learning, memory, repair, and improve behavior. PBM is shown to be a safe at 1065–1075 nm wavelength range and used to treat functional neurodegenerative and inflammatory conditions in humans.

Study objectives

To test safety and potential therapeutic effect of low emission, repeated NIR light stimulations of patient’s brains diagnosed with dementia.

Methods

Total of 71 subjects diagnosed with early to mid‐stage dementia completed a treatment. Study was approved by institutional IRB, performed under protection embodied in the Basic Principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and conducted in a blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled fashion at Baylor Scott & White Health (BSWH) in Temple, TX and at Quietmind Foundation in Elkins Park, PA. Helmet devices emitting infrared light (active treatment arm) and without (placebo arm) were used 6 min each session twice daily for 8 consequent weeks. Three assessments were performed before, in the middle and in the end of treatment and included Neuro‐feedback with Neuropsychological Battery: (Mini‐Mental State Exam (MMSE), ADAS‐Cog (different for each patient visit), Clock Drawing Test, Word Recalls, Auditory Verbal Learning Test (A.V.L.T.), Digit Span Forward, Digit Span Backward, Category Fluency Test, Trail Making Test, WAIS‐R Digit Symbol Substitution Test, Boston Naming Test, A.V.L.T. (30 min delay)) with patient everyday cognition (ECOG Test). Results were compared inside of each group and cross compared between treatment arms.

Results

69 enrolled patients could successfully complete study and had no health issues or reported side effects. 2 patients dropped out of study for health reasons irrelevant to use of NIR helmet. When results of NIR light treated group were compared with placebo effects at baseline and after completion of treatment, several improvements were noted: MMSE score by up to 45.5%; Clock Drawing Test by up to 75%; Immediate word recall by up to 68%; Delayed word recall by up to 25%; Detailed logical memory up to 52%; Object recognition up to 45.8%; Digits Manipulations improved by up to 75%; Overall time of performance was improved by 52.5%. Neuro‐feedback screening noted improved attention, mood, mental focus, attention and decreased level of anxiety in patients treated with NIR light stimulations.

Conclusion

Short, daily 8 weeks long NIR light brain stimulations demonstrate safe and promising positive trends of dementia symptoms improvements. Caregiver’s feedback also expressed positive changes in daily routines over the course of treatment. More in depth studies are needed to evaluate level of caregivers and family members burden decrease as result of NIR light treatment.

Support or Funding Information

This study was supported by Clarke Brain Institute.