Photobiomodulation or ‘infrared photobiomodulation of brain cells’ by making good use of monochromatic light from a low-power laser is a contemporary method for treating dementia with superior results. 

The Worst Case Scenario: Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease are Interchangeable. 

Dementia is a word given to a set of symptoms that affects different aspects of a person's cognition, behavior, and emotions. It worsens over time and leads to a severe decline in mental functions. It is generally caused by diseases that damage or destroy brain cells, such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD).

Dementia is not related to normal aging but results from physical diseases that damage the brain. The brain is a complex structure of the body composed of hundreds of brain cells called neurons, which transmit information through an intricate network, sending and receiving messages to keep the brain functioning. When these cells are damaged or destroyed, it affects a person's ability to think, remember, communicate, and perform daily activities.

In the case of AD, it starts with a gradual decline in memory skills that eventually progresses to impair other cognitive functions such as language, movement, and other brain activities. Dementia is, therefore, a primary symptom of AD, but it can also be caused by other conditions such as head injuries, neurological disorders like Parkinson's disease and stroke, or even other psychological illnesses such as depression.

Four major diseases cause dementia, out of which Alzheimer's disease is the most pronounced form of dementia. 

It affects the hippocampus of the brain, which is responsible for memory storage and recall, causing the brain cells to die. The symptoms of AD include difficulty thinking, poor judgment, and problem-solving skills.

Stats Quoted

1 in 3 people born today in the USA will die with dementia, and applying the right treatment modality is crucial to beat the lethality of this disease. According to WHO, more than 55 million people live with dementia worldwide, with nearly 10 million new cases yearly. These stats are alarming, and it is estimated that by 2050, the number of people suffering from dementia will triple to more than 135 million.

Fortunately, advances in medical technology have resulted in breakthrough treatments for dementia, and emerging therapies like photobiomodulation therapy can help ease the symptoms of dementia and improve the quality of life of people suffering from it.

How does photobiomodulation therapy work? Let's see what medical research tells us.

Treatment Regimen For Dementia & Alzheimer's Disease 

The treatment regimen varies widely from condition to condition, subdividing broad dementia into mild, moderate, mixed, or severe diseases.  The treatment of dementia is targeted at controlling the symptoms and slowing down the progression of the disease.

Medication Therapy 

Usually, people who have mixed dementia, otherwise known as dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease, is better controlled with one of the four drugs: donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine, and memantine. These drugs tackle major physical brain changes and help introduce motivation, reduce anxiety levels and enhance memory. 

Photobiomodulation Therapy - Near Infrared / Infrared Light Therapy:

Recent studies suggest that Alzheimer's disease disrupts brain signaling and how neurons synchronize. This specific type of neuron synchrony altered in the disease is called gamma rhythms. The sensory information from the environment is critical for synchronizing the brain. 

It helps us remember our own names, our ability to remember where we kept our car keys the last and recall the details of the party last month. The creation of a sensory paradigm that uses flickery light to restore gamma rhythm is called infrared light therapy, which works on the principle of photobiomodulation. With the help of light photons, disease conditions and susceptibility changes are now possible. 

How Has Photobiomodulation Therapy Shown Greater Success In Symptom Management?

The treatment refers to the modulation of the body with the use of photons. Photons are small packets of light energy that hold the intensity until they get absorbed into the body. The infrared and visible light is delivered to the tissue and is absorbed by chromophores in the mitochondria. It increases ATP and ROS, which increases protein replication and cellular function simultaneously. Healing exceptionally gets better with the intensity and coverage of the light. 

Intranasal Infrared Light Therapy For Alzheimer's Disease:

Intranasal light therapy is a new development in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The human body has great capabilities to absorb photons through the nasal cavity. The photons are directly used in the brain, and with stimulation of the deeper areas, memory loss is controlled to a great extent.  

So if you or someone you know is suffering from Alzheimer's disease, consider photobiomodulation therapy as a viable treatment option to help manage the symptoms and improve quality of life.

Intranasal red light therapy is accessed through various approaches. Here’re the ways how brain stimulation can achieve through different routes. 

From nostrils 

Portable IN-PBMT devices of near-infrared and infrared light are available commercially because these devices are easy to use without needing medical assistance. These clipped-on, portable devices are easy to use and help improve overall oxygenation in the body. 

As the blood absorbs low-level light, it causes hemoglobin to dissociate, leaving oxygen, nitrous oxide, and carbon-di-oxide free, leading to better oxygenation of the localized area. It also initiates a remote neuroprotective effect by causing an influx of white blood cells in inflamed local sites to clear up the debris and microbes. 

One of the major limitations of these devices is their inability to stimulate deeper brain structures. 

From nasal submucous space 

As mentioned above, portable clipped-on devices cannot stimulate deeper brain structures. Therefore, a more modern approach took birth. The miniature IN-PBMT LEDs are implanted in the submucosa of the nose. 

It overcomes the limitation of portable devices and illuminates deep brain structures stimulating subcortical neurons. Implantation of such devices is possible under local anesthesia and under ambulatory settings; therefore, no intensive surgical protocols are needed. 

From the sphenoid sinus 

It’s a full-fledged surgical procedure that demands the implantation of optical fiber in the deep sinus area. This indwelling device is placed into the sinus area through endoscopic examination. This device is connected to the external infrared light source, which imparts a therapeutic amount of light to the limbic system adjacent to the sinus area. 

Wrapping Up 

Overall, photobiomodulation therapy is a promising treatment option for managing the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Whether you choose intranasal light therapy, nasal submucosa implants, or sphenoid sinus implantation, you can rest assured that this treatment approach has been shown to be effective in controlling the symptoms of Alzheimer's and improving quality of life. So if you or a loved one is struggling with Alzheimer's, be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about photobiomodulation therapy as a potential treatment option.