Brain disorders and photobiomodulation

Transcranial Low-Level Laser Therapy (EY-TLLLT) is the direct irradiation of the human brain with highly focused infrared lasers.

Infrared light has the ability to penetrate bones and to bring light energy to the targeted brain areas. Thus, the optimum wavelength for maximum skull penetration is between 805 nm and 830 nm (infrared light). Therefore, studies have shown that the light reaches a depth of 4-5 cm past skull, or 3 cm into brain tissue.

Light energy is then absorbed by different types of cells to trigger a broad range of intra-cellular effects.

Brain tissue mechanisms discussed in the article

• Increase of ATP production = improved brain metabolism
• Improved cerebral blood flow and lymphatic flow
• Improved cerebral oxygenation
• Reduction of neuroinflammation
• Improved neuronal signaling
• Increased neurogenesis and synaptogenesis
• Anti-apoptotic proteins
• Anti-oxidant effects

LED therapy is non-invasive, painless and non-thermal.

References

• Margaret A. Naeser, Paula I. Martin, Michael D. Ho, Maxine H. Krengel, Yelena Bogdanova, Jeffrey A. Knight, Andrea Fedoruk, Michael R. Hamblin, Bang-Bon Koo, Chap. 25 – Transcranial, red/near-infrared light-emitting diode therapy for chronic traumatic brain injury and poststroke aphasia: clinical studies. Photobiomodulation in the Brain, Academic Press, 2019, 309-331.
• Ljubica M. Konstantinović, Saša R. Filipović, Chap. 18 – Effects of near-infrared low-level laser stimulation on neuronal excitability, Photobiomodulation in the Brain, Academic Press, 2019, 233-240.
• Sinha, Dr. Saurabh & Shakya, Anshul & Prasad, Dr. Satyendra & Singh, Shashikant & Gurav, Nilambari & Prasad, Rupali & Gurav, Shailendra. (2020). An in-silico evaluation of different Saikosaponins for their potency against SARS-CoV-2 using NSP15 and fusion spike glycoprotein as targets. Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics. 1-13. 10.