Study on Red Light Therapy and Brain Health
Recently, a study from the University of Utah has revealed that red light therapy may help reduce brain inflammation and protect individuals who have suffered head trauma from long-term health issues.
Long-term brain damage resulting from repeated impacts, often found in athletes and military personnel, can lead to serious cognitive symptoms. These can range from memory issues to severe dementia. A condition known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is linked to multiple head impacts rather than a single injury, has become a growing concern.
According to a new study published in the Journal of Neurotrauma, over a hundred former NFL players have been diagnosed posthumously with CTE. Similar cognitive challenges have been observed among military members in combat, first responders, and veterans.
To investigate the effects of red light therapy on brain injuries, researchers involved 26 active football players in their study. Participants either received the actual red light treatment, using a headset and a device placed on their nose, or they were given a placebo that looked identical but lacked any light emission. Participants Self-administered these treatments three times a week for twenty minutes over a period of 16 weeks.
Dr. Hannah Lindsay, the lead author, expressed her initial skepticism about the results, indicating how unexpected the findings were. It appears that specific wavelengths of light can enter the brain and lower inflammation-causing molecules, potentially delaying or preventing conditions like dementia.
The study found that athletes who underwent the placebo treatment showed increased brain inflammation throughout the season. In contrast, those who received the red light therapy did not experience such an escalation in inflammation.
Interestingly, past studies have indicated that strong enough red light can penetrate the skull and effectively reduce inflammation in the brain.
Dr. Elizabeth Wilde, another lead author, expressed her initial doubts but noted that accumulating studies are making the evidence increasingly convincing.
Research Limitations
While the study provides promising insights, the researchers do note that the small sample size may have affected the inflammation levels in both the treatment and control groups. They stress that future larger-scale randomized trials will be essential to confirm these results.
Dr. Carrie Esopenko, the second author of the study, highlighted a commitment to making sports safer so that individuals can participate in activities that bring joy without risking long-term health issues. The team aims to recruit around 300 individuals experiencing ongoing symptoms from traumatic brain injuries or concussions for a controlled trial planned for 2026.
