How Near Infrared Light Therapy Can Boost Your Brain State ?

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Near Infrared Light Therapy on Brain State

Near-infrared light therapy, also known as photobiomodulation therapy (PBM), is a non-invasive and painless treatment that uses near-infrared (NIR) light to stimulate cellular functions and improve brain health. NIR light can penetrate deep into the brain tissue and activate complex IV of the mitochondrial respiratory chain (cytochrome c oxidase), which increases ATP synthesis and reduces oxidative stress. This in turn enhances neuronal survival, neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and neuroprotection.

NIR light therapy has been shown to have beneficial effects on various brain conditions, such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment.

Numerous research studies have demonstrated the acute and chronic effects of NIR light therapy on brain state, such as cognitive function, reaction time, memory, mood, etc.

For example,

a study by Barrett et al. (2016) found that a single session of NIR light therapy applied to the forehead improved P300 amplitude (a measure of attention) and reaction time in healthy adults.

Another study by Saltmarche et al. (2017) reported that 12 weeks of NIR light therapy delivered via an intranasal device improved cognitive function and memory in patients with mild cognitive impairment.

Moreover,

a meta-analysis by Hamblin et al. (2018) concluded that NIR light therapy had significant antidepressant and anxiolytic effects in both animal models and human trials.

Some of the mechanisms by which NIR light therapy affects the brain are:

  • Increasing energy production (ATP) in mitochondria.
  • Releasing local nitric oxide that causes vasodilation and increased cerebral blood flow.
  • Reducing oxidative damage and reactive oxygen species in a type of brain immune cell (microglia).
  • Stimulating normal neurogenesis (birth of new brain cells), which aids in healing from traumatic brain injury.

Some of the benefits of NIR light therapy for brain health are:

  • Enhancing mental sharpness and boosting memory.
  • Improving thinking skills and problem-solving abilities.
  • Treating brain injuries, degenerative brain disorders, and certain mental illnesses.
  • Boosting male sexual and reproductive health.
In conclusion

NIR light therapy is a promising technique for improving brain state and function. It has multiple advantages over conventional therapies, such as being safe, non-invasive, painless, cost-effective, and easy to administer. However, more research is needed to optimize the parameters of NIR light therapy (such as wavelength, intensity, duration, and frequency), identify the mechanisms of action at molecular and cellular levels, and evaluate the long-term outcomes and potential side effects.