Photobiomodulation: The Potential Light To Treat Concussions
The Overwhelming Occurrence Of Concussions In Sports, Such As Football, Has Become A Major Topic Of Interest Within The Medical Field. Public Awareness Of The Seriousness Of Concussions Has Substantially Increased In Recent Years As More Researchers Are Discovering Its Long-Term Degenerative Effects. There Has Been A Major Push To Better Understand And Treat Concussions.
In Recent Years, Researchers Have Had A Breakthrough In Using Light Therapy As A Potential Treatment Option For Concussions. It Is Called Photobiomodulation (PBM), Or Light Therapy, And It Is Showing Tremendous Potential In Treating Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries (MTBI), Most Commonly Known As Concussions.
This Article Will Provide An Overview Of Concussions, CTE And How Photobiomodulation Could Be Used As An Avenue Of Treatment.
What Is A Concussion?
A Concussion Is A Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI). It Is An Acute Brain Injury Inflicted By An External Force To The Head That Causes The Brain To Shake Within The Skull.
Concussions Reduce Proper Function Of The Brain.
Concussions Are Common In Sports, Especially Contact Sports Such As Football.
What Are The Symptoms?
Headaches & Dizziness
Blurred Vision
Brain Fog
Anxiety & Depression
CTE – A Long-Term Effect Of Concussions
Overwhelmingly, The Research Shows That Concussions Can Lead To More Serious Degenerative Brain Conditions Such As Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) (Theodore, 2019). CTE Is A Degenerative Brain Disease That Causes A Decrease In Cognitive Function. In 2017, A Study Conducted At Boston University Showed That 110 Out Of 111 Brains Of Deceased Former Football Players Showed Signs Of CTE (Mez, Jesse Et Al, 2017). CTE Is Caused By The Formation Of A Type Of Protein, Called Tau Protein In The Brain. Tau Protein Kills Brain Cells Leading To Progressive Memory Loss, Increased Mood Swings And Even Personality Changes.
The Brain Is The Most Complex Structure In The Human Body And We Still Only Know Very Little About It. As A Result, Brain Injuries, Such As CTE Are Extremely Difficult To Diagnose And While Symptoms Can Be Obvious, CTE Cannot Be Confirmed Until After Death. It Is Only After Death That The Brain Can Be More Closely Observed For Tau Proteins. That Being Said, Exciting New Research Points To Photobiomodulation, Or Light Therapy, As A Promising Tool To Treat Compromised Brain Cells From A Concussion.
What Is Photobiomodulation?
Photobiomodulation (PBM) Uses Natural Red And Near Infrared Light (NIR) To Stimulate And Regenerate Cells And Tissue. The Red Light And NIR Light Are Applied Through The Skull To The Brain Where They Are Absorbed By The Mitochondria. The Absorption Of The Light Increases ATP Production (The Energy Currency Of Life), Which In Turn Stimulates The Process Of Cell Regeneration. Think Of Photobiomodulation Like Jump Starting A Dead Car Battery!
According To Michael (2016), Red Light Stimulation Applied To The Skull Has Shown:
Increase Cerebral Blood Flow
Increase Oxygen Consumption
Increase Energy Production To The Brain
Boost ATP Production
Reduce Inflammation
PBM Has The Potential To Improve Compromised Brain Tissue And Have Positive Therapeutic Effects In Subjects With Traumatic Brain Injury, Neurogenerative And Major Depressive Disorder (Cassano Et Al, 2016). An FDA Approved Device, Vielight, Is An Example Of Current Available Non-Invasive That Delivers This Red Light Therapy. (You Can Click Here For Further Information).
Light Therapy’s Role In Treating Concussions
Unfortunately, Little Has Been Found To Reverse The Damage Of TBI Caused By Repetitive Concussions. However, Research Has Shown Positive Effects On Neurological Functions In Mice With Acute TBI Who Have Been Treated With PBM. Evidence Shows That PBM Can Help The Brain Repair Itself By An Increased Formation Of New Brains Cells And An Increased In New Connections Between Existing Brain Cells (Hamblin, 2018).
Another Clinical Study Using Three Different Frequencies Of PBM Were Used To Treat Traumatic Brain Injury In Veterans Three 3 Times Each Week Over A Period Of 6 Weeks. The Researchers Noted An Improvement In Neuropsychological Test Scores, Cerebral Blood Flow, Improved Memory And Overall Cognitive Function (Gregory Hipskind Et Al., 2018).
Conclusion: A Potential Light For Your Brain
Light Therapy Offers Exciting New Possibilities Due To Its Non-Invasive Treatment Application For Concussions. While Diagnosing And Treatment Of The Brain Are Still Difficult, The Current And Developing Research Show The Future Possibility Of Light Therapy Being An Essential Tool In Treating Brain Trauma And Injuries. Uncovering A Treatment For Concussions Will Inevitably Lead To A Reduction In More Serious Degenerative Brain Diseases For Which There Are No Cures Yet Such As CTE.
References:
Theodore B. (2019). ‘Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) In Collision Sports: Possible Mechanisms Of Transformation Into Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). Metabolism. 2019 Nov;100S:153943. Doi: 10.1016/J.Metabol.2019.07.007
Mez, Jesse Et Al. “Clinicopathological Evaluation Of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy In Players Of American Football.” JAMA Vol. 318,4 (2017): 360-370. Doi:10.1001/Jama.2017.8334
Hamblin M. R. (2016). Shining Light On The Head: Photobiomodulation For Brain Disorders. BBA Clinical, 6, 113–124. Https://Doi.Org/10.1016/J.Bbacli.2016.09.002
Cassano, Paolo Et Al. “Review Of Transcranial Photobiomodulation For Major Depressive Disorder: Targeting Brain Metabolism, Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, And Neurogenesis.” Neurophotonics Vol. 3,3 (2016): 031404. Doi:10.1117/1.NPh.3.3.031404
Michael H. “Shining Light On The Head: Photobiomodulation For Brain Disorders” BBA Clinical. 2016, December; 6: 113-124. Dio: 10.1016/J.Bbacli.2016.09.002
S. Gregory Hipskind, Fred L. GroverJr., T. Richard Fort, Dennis Helffenstein, Thomas J. Burke, Shane A. Quint, Garrett Bussiere, Michael Stone, And Timothy Hurtado.Photomedicine And Laser Surgery.Ahead Of Print http://Doi.Org/10.1089/Pho.2018.4489