Treatment Of Parkinson's With Infrared Light Therapy
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Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is an old-age ailment that has afflicted humanity for ages owing to the fact that it is an incurable condition. It is a degenerative brain condition characterized by motor symptoms such as trouble maintaining posture, tremors at rest, and non-motor symptoms like cognitive and mood problems.
Over 1 million individuals suffer from PD only in the US. This puts an estimated $52 billion annual financial burden on healthcare. And with the booming population globally, its incidence grows evermore.
Cause of Parkinson's disease
The pathognomic feature is the impaired balance of dopamine production due to the loss of dopaminergic neurons (dopamine-producing brain cells) in the brain's basal ganglia and the presence of Lewy bodies in the brain cells. Although various genetic and environmental factors play into the etiology of this condition, the key pathology lies in mitochondrial dysfunction in brain cells.
Treatment Options for Parkinson's disease
Antipsychotic drugs, out of which levodopa stands out, have been the mainstay treatment option for decades. Psychosocial support is integrated to tackle mood and behavior problems along with medications. Despite the aggressive treatment approach to limit the progressive degeneration of the brain cells, Parkinson's is still very much an untreatable illness.
What to do when Parkinson's medication stops working?
Our helplessness in the face of this disorder was immense for a long time, but with scientific advancement come limitless possibilities. Where all other options fail, low level light therapy (LLLT) has proved to be a ray of hope in delaying the progress of Parkinson's in the face of its incurable nature.
This article will review this novel treatment method for treating Parkinson's disease. Infrared light has been revamping the treatment approach to neuropsychiatric disorders, especially for PD patients.
Red Light Therapy
Light therapy, also termed Phototherapy, is a non-invasive method of deep brain stimulation to treat neuropsychiatric illnesses with the help of an artificial light source generated from light-emitting diodes (LED).
But can't we use simple bright white light in light therapy? The answer is no. The clinical trials have pitted bright light to dim red light only to suggest that wavelengths near red light are much more efficacious in treating brain illnesses.
White light, also known as polychromatic light, invisible to our eyes, consists of a whole spectrum of wavelengths. And clinical trial data has deduced that only a specific wavelength of Red light and infrared light have helped relieve the symptoms of various illnesses.
Red Light Therapy for Neuropathies
Clinical trials done with red light therapy and infrared light therapy have produced appreciable results for conditions where brain cells are damaged or functioning abnormally, such as
Is Photobiomodulation the same as red/infrared light therapy?
Photobiomodulation, also known as Low Level Light Therapy (LLLT), is a process of altering cellular mechanisms in our central nervous system with the help of a specific wavelength and intensity of light. In contrast, Red light therapy and infrared light therapy are specific techniques of photobiomodulation in which light of corresponding wavelengths is delivered deep into your brain cells.
Mechanism of Red Light Therapy: Deep brain stimulation
A large array of LEDs generate red light and near-infrared light, which can penetrate the skin of your scalp to excite deep regions of your brain. The beams of light produced are of very low intensity; that's why photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy is also called Low-Level-Laser therapy (LLLT).
How does Red Light Therapy Work?
A study done in 2017 demonstrated that red light penetrates our skin to about 4-5 mm, up to the subcutaneous fats. However, the near-infrared light (NIr light) at 810 nm, 830 nm, and 850 nm can penetrate around 5-6 cm, which is enough to cross our skull to reach deeper brain tissue.
Red VS. Infrared VS. Near-infrared light
Before moving on, it is essential to clear out this confusion. Red light (630-750 nm) and infrared light (750 nm-1 mm) have 2 different wavelength ranges but lie adjacent to each other on the spectrum. And within the 750 nm-1 mm range of infrared, there is an even narrower range of 750-1500 nm, designated as Near-infrared (NIr).
Both red and infrared light serves the same function in tissues, so these terms can be used interchangeably depending on the depth of penetration to be achieved. In the same way, we can say 'infrared,' assuming that only the near-infrared range (750-1500 nm) is being referred to and not the middle or far infrared.
For example, if we want rays to penetrate a thick skull in a live specimen or a patient, we will use Infrared/Near-infrared. But when histological sections are to be irradiated on a petri dish, we can use Red light since not much depth penetration is to be achieved.
Pros and cons of Red Light Therapy
Red Light therapy is safe, cost-effective, non-invasive, and associated with only mild side effects. However mild the side effects can be, they have been reported a few times, which include headache, fatigue, sleep problems, and eye-straining. It is advised not to use Red Light therapy if you have a history of skin and eye conditions.
Infra-Red Light therapy for Parkinson's disease
Many clinical trials done on animal models have suggested that PBM therapy is an effective treatment method in Parkinson's patients. In addition to the modulation of mitochondrial function, strong evidence of the benefits of IR light therapy on the human brain exist, which have a neuroprotective effect.
How Does Infrared Light therapy work in Parkinson's disease?
Parkinson's disease results from the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra due to the accumulation of α-synuclein (α-syn) protein forming Lewy bodies. A clinical trial inferred that irradiation of substantial nigra with 808 nm of NIr light mitigates the loss of those dopamine producing neurons, thus relieving Parkinson's symptoms by improving motor function.
Another study done on animal models applied NIr light onto substantial nigra resulted in improving motor symptoms and mobility in PD patients.
The potential mechanisms for the therapeutic effect of IR light therapy are due to multiple factors, including:
Increased ATP Production
ATP is the currency of energy. Mitochondria is responsible for cellular energy production in the form of Adenosine Triphosphatase (ATP) from the electron transport chain (ETC). In Parkinson's disease, with aging, there is a decline in ATP production. NIr treatment done in a clinical trial on animal models suggest significant improvement in cellular energy production from the mitochondria of cells.
Stimulation of Cytochrome C Oxidase
IR light therapy increases the aforementioned ATP levels by stimulating the Cytochrome c oxidase enzyme, which is the gatekeeper enzyme of (ETC) in mitochondria. The wavelengths of IR light stimulate this enzyme, initiating ETC.
Increase in Nerve Growth Factor (NGF)
A histological study was done in which researchers examined how a resected sciatic nerve would heal upon the application of red light stimulation. The resected tissue was irradiated for 3 weeks, 1 hour per day, with 660 nm of red light emitting from LEDs. They observed that improved nerve regeneration took place by virtue of increased NGF release, which boosts the healing process.
Optimization of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)
Nitric oxide and multiple reactive oxygen species (ROS) are culprits in causing PD. Clinical studies have suggested that NIr stimulation reduces ROS production, which can have beneficial effects in alleviating Parkinson's symptoms.
Increase in Anti-apoptosis and Survivin
IR light therapy has been shown to have a neuroprotective effect by increasing factors that cause intentional death (apoptosis) of neuronal cells. Higher levels of anti-apoptosis and survivin factors protect against the loss of dopaminergic neurons.
Increase in Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF)
BDNF is an essential protein in the central nervous system that is responsible for the differentiation, maintenance, and survival of central and peripheral neurons. The presence of BDNF protects the cells from progressive degeneration. NIr light exposure has been shown to increase BDNF levels which have a protective effect against PD.
Decrease Neuron Excitotoxicity
Too much stimulation or firing of nerve impulses due to excessive release of neurotransmitters can damage those cells. NIr treatment shows reduced excitotoxicity which delays the onset or progression of Parkinson's.
Decreases Inflammation
A study done to check the effectiveness of NIr stimulation for Alzheimer's disease revealed NIr reduces pro-inflammation cytokines and glial cell activation, both of which lead to damaging the brain.
Red Light Therapy Devices
Several devices administer Red/IR light through different routes:
- Trans-cranial (Red Light Therapy Helmet)
- Intra-nasal (Nasal Lasters)
- Intra-oral (Mouth guards)
- Through ear (Ear Laser)
Red Light Therapy Helmet
Because of the PBM therapy it delivers, the IR helmet is a novel, cost-effective, non-invasive, and the most groundbreaking treatment modality for Parkinson's disease. Several trials have been ongoing for some time. Researchers have theorized that sending IR to the brain via a specially built IR helmet would also aid individuals with Parkinson's disease.
To Conclude
Parkinson's is a neurodegenerative disorder with no cure. Once medications stop working, there are not many options left. However, Infrared light therapy, delivered through an IR helmet, is a promising therapy that uses low-level IR light to stimulate the brain and improve the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. This therapy can help to improve mobility, reduce tremors, and improve the overall quality of life for those with Parkinson's disease.