Can Red-Light Therapy Treat Brain Injuries?
The Athletic reports that researchers at the University of Utah are studying itPBM, a medical-grade red-light therapy that has shown promising signs of reducing brain inflammation and improving cognition, mood, anxiety, motor performance and neural connectivity. The report centers in part on former BYU football star and University of Utah adjunct professor Larry Carr, who says the treatment…
Researchers at the University of Utah are exploring the potential of a medical-grade red-light therapy called photobiomodulation therapy (itPBM) to treat brain injuries. The therapy has shown promise in reducing brain inflammation and improving various aspects of cognitive function, mood, anxiety, motor performance, and neural connectivity.
Former BYU football star and University of Utah adjunct professor Larry Carr has personally experienced benefits from the treatment, which he attributes to his recovery after years of brain damage from repeated head impacts. The researchers, led by Elisabeth Wilde, Ph.D., co-director of the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Concussion Center, have compiled evidence suggesting that itPBM, also known as intranasal transcranial PBM, could be a promising avenue for safeguarding neurological health.
Their recent study, published in the Journal of Neurotrauma, followed 26 BYU football players throughout a season and found that those treated with itPBM demonstrated reduced brain inflammation and improved cognitive function, mood, anxiety, executive function, and motor performance compared to the untreated group. While definitive clinical trials are still needed, the findings have been compelling enough to warrant further research and speculation.
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