Infrared Light Therapy Shows Promise for Brain Injury Recovery - Neuroscience News

Summary: Scientists have found that transcranial infrared light therapy may promote tissue repair after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). In animal studies, brief daily infrared treatments reduced harmful inflammatory activity and cell death in the brain post-injury. The therapy led to improved cognitive and balance function four weeks later, especially with 810nm infrared light.

This research could pave the way for a new therapeutic option for mTBI, where treatments are limited. The team now aims to develop a medical device to deliver this innovative therapy to patients with brain or spinal cord injuries.

Key Facts:

Source: University of Birmingham

Birmingham scientists have shown light therapy delivered transcranially (though the skull) can aid tissue repair after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).

Their research, published today in Bioengineering & Translational Medicine, indicates that this novel method could result in a new treatment option in an area of medicine that currently has few, if any, treatment options.

Traumatic brain injury (mTBI) results when the initial trauma of head injury is magnified by a complex set of inflammatory changes that occur in the brain. These secondary processes, which take place from minutes to hours after head injury, can dramatically worsen outcomes for patients.

The method invented by scientists at the University of Birmingham, U.K. and patented by University of Birmingham Enterprise aims to protect against this secondary damage, and stimulate faster, and better recovery for patients.

In the study, the Birmingham team, comprising researchers Professor Zubair Ahmed, Professor Will Palin, Dr Mohammed Hadis and surgeons Mr Andrew Stevens and Mr David Davies, examined the effect of two wavelengths of near infrared light (660nm and 810nm) on recovery following injury.

The study in animal models used daily two-minute bursts of infrared light, delivered by a laser, for three days post-injury.

The findings showed significant reductions in the activation of astrocytes and microglial cells, which are heavily implicated in the inflammatory processes in the brain that follow head trauma, and significant reductions in biochemical markers of apoptosis (cell death).

At four weeks, there were significant improvements in performance in functional tests involving balance and cognitive function. The red light therapy also accelerated recovery compared to controls, with superior outcomes for light with a wavelength of 810nm.

The study builds on research published earlier this year which showed near infrared light delivered directly to the site of spinal cord injury both improves survival of nerve cells and stimulates new nerve cell growth.

Professor Ahmed, who led the study, said: “We want to develop this method into a medical device that can be used to enhance recovery for patients with traumatic brain or spinal cord injury, with the aim of improving outcomes for patients.”

The researchers are seeking commercial partners to co-develop the device and take it to market.

Author: Ruth AshtonSource: University of BirminghamContact: Ruth Ashton – University of BirminghamImage: The image is credited to Neuroscience News

Original Research: Open access.“Photobiomodulation improves functional recovery after mild traumatic brain injury” by Zubair Ahmed et al. Bioengineering & Translational Medicine

Abstract

Photobiomodulation improves functional recovery after mild traumatic brain injury

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a common consequence of head injury but there are no recognized interventions to promote recovery of the brain. We previously showed that photobiomodulation (PBM) significantly reduced the number of apoptotic cells in adult rat hippocampal organotypic slice cultures.

In this study, we first optimized PBM delivery parameters for use in mTBI, conducting cadaveric studies to calibrate 660 and 810 nm lasers for transcutaneous delivery of PBM to the cortical surface. We then used an in vivo weight drop mTBI model in adult rats and delivered daily optimized doses of 660, 810 nm, or combined 660/810 nm PBM.

Functional recovery was assessed using novel object recognition (NOR) and beam balance tests, whilst histology and immunohistochemistry were used to assess the mTBI neuropathology.

We found that PBM at 810, 660 nm, or 810/660 nm all significantly improved both NOR and beam balance performance, with 810 nm PBM having the greatest effects.

Histology demonstrated no overt structural damage in the brain after mTBI, however, immunohistochemistry using brain sections showed significantly reduced activation of both CD11b+ microglia and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)+ astrocytes at 3 days post-injury.

Significantly reduced cortical localization of the apoptosis marker, cleaved caspase-3, and modest reductions in extracellular matrix deposition after PBM treatment, limited to choroid plexus and periventricular areas were also observed.

Our results demonstrate that 810 nm PBM optimally improved functional outcomes after mTBI, reduced markers associated with apoptosis and astrocyte/microglial activation, and thus may be useful as a potential regenerative therapy.

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