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Light Therapy For Parkinson’s Patients

Unlocking Life’s Full Potential

Parkinson’s Patient Review For LZR Ultra Bright Light Therapy

Parkinsons symptoms vary from individual to individual as it is an extremely heterogeneous disease affecting everyone differently.By implementing SYMBYXs treatment protocols, our flexible PDCare hand-held device is used to treat the gut, wide-ranging positive changes are being recorded by patients. Such changes include motor improvements, better sleep, lightened mood, reduced muscle pain and even returned sense of smell.

How is this even possible!?

The PDCare Laser therapy increases gut fermentation of dietary fibre, which in turn facilitates the production of helpful gut metabolites .SCFAs are important for manufacturing the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin that are in short supply in a Parkinsons patient . In essence, the gut takes on an even greater load and compensates for the reduction of dopamine production in the brain.

Does Blue Light Therapy Have Side Effects

Blue light therapy is generally safe, but its important to consider the potential side effects of blue light used in photodynamic treatment.

Since photodynamic blue light therapy increases the skins sensitivity, skin may swell, turn red, peel, blister or scab after treatment. You also need to take precautions in the two days following a photodynamic skin treatment:

  • Stay out of strong, direct light.
  • Wear protective clothing.
  • Avoid surfaces that may reflect strong light.

As long as you receive your treatment from a trained provider and take the proper precautions, photodynamic blue light therapy should help improve your skin, not damage it.

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Neurological Effects Of Therapeutic Laser

One of the areas of laser therapy that is rather interesting and promises significant potential for healing is application of therapeutic laser to neurological conditions. In this article, I will present a review of scientific studies relative to neurological effects of laser and discuss some of the more promising applications.

Therapeutic laser has been studied for numerous neurological conditions that include:

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Not A Mainstream Treatment

Those in the profession of medically directed home care have long known that light can elevate mood, help restore sleep patterns, and introduce energy into the homes of people facing chronic and debilitating conditions. The advancement of light-related therapies shows the potential of a new way for us to help people facing Parkinsons disease, Alzheimers, and perhaps other conditions yet to be discovered.

This is still not considered a mainstream treatment, said Christina Hahn, RN, MSN and Care Manager Supervisor for SeniorBridge. But if and when it becomes one, we can assist with therapy sessions in and outside the home in accordance with the doctors orders.

The Potential Of Light Therapy In Parkinsons Disease

15 Best Gifts For People With Parkinson

Accepted for publication 10 December 2013

18 February 2014Volume 2014:4Pages 114

Introduction

The current gold standard treatments for Parkinsons disease are very effective at attenuating the motor signs, at least initially. However, they do not reliably slow the progression of the disease neurons continue to die during the course of treatment. The discovery of new therapeutic approaches that offer neuroprotection against parkinsonian insult is therefore paramount. In this context, several recent studies in animal models of Parkinsons disease, as well as other models of disease , have reported that red to infrared light therapy can be neuroprotective. There is real potential for the development of light therapy as a treatment option for Parkinsons disease patients one that slows the ongoing neuronal death and progression of the disease.

Overview of Parkinsons disease

Current therapies for Parkinsons disease

Dopamine drug therapy

In general, these drug treatments have very good early symptomatic effects, but their longer-term neuroprotective or disease modifying effects are far from clear. For example, although drugs such as selegiline and rasagiline have been tested as putative neuroprotective agents in clinical trials, their ability to actually stop neuronal death and slow the pathology of the disease has yet to be demonstrated.26

Surgical treatment

What is light therapy and how does it offer neuroprotection?

Cell survival

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Australian Company Achieves Promising Results With Laser Therapy

Australian medical technology company SYMBYX has completed its first human trial of the use of laser light therapy to reduce the symptoms of Parkinsons by targeting the gut-brain axis.

The proof-of-concept trial showed that measures of mobility, cognition, dynamic balance, sleep, motivation, and fine motor skills of participants were all significantly improved.

Since then, these results have been confirmed in a follow-up trial in Sydney soon to be published in the Journal of Photomodulation, Photomedicine and Laser Surgery.

Combined, these results reinforced that larger, randomized placebo-controlled trials are warranted to further consolidate the data. Two such trials using SYMBYX lasers are about to commence in Sydney and Canada, with results expected in April 2022.

SYMBYX uses proprietary, super-pulsing laser technology that delivers optimal doses of light therapy without generating heat. The lasers are non-invasive, painless to use and portable. They are medical grade lasers, containing diodes manufactured in Sweden under exclusive license to SYMBYX, and are CE marked and ARTG listed.

Most people dont realise that their colon has the capacity to produce both dopamine and serotonin, the critical neurotransmitters required for healthy brain function.

Available Light Therapy Devices

Because light therapy delivered via the eyes or the skin has minimal side effects, multiple light-emitting devices have already been designed, marketed, and are available for purchase without FDA approval.

These white light and red-light devices are currently marketed for treatment of depression, chronic pain, wrinkles, wound healing, acne, and sleep improvement. There are no white light or red-light therapy devices yet on the market that are designed and marketed specifically for Parkinsons disease.

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Direct Stimulation Of Cells

There is a large body of work reporting that a number of molecular and cellular systems are influenced by NIr. At a cellular level, NIr displays a biphasic dose-response curve, suggesting that NIr is a low-level stressor of cells and that the activation of endogenous cellular stress response systems is likely to be central to its efficacy . The main direct target of NIr appears to be cytochrome c oxidase, a key enzyme of the mitochondrial respiratory chain .2A). This enzyme is a photoacceptor of light in the NIr range NIr exposure produces a redox change in cytochrome c oxidase which causes a transient change in mitochondrial membrane potential, leading to increase ATP production and a burst in low levels of reactive oxygen species . This, in turns, triggers a cascade of secondary downstream signaling pathways that collectively stimulate endogenous cell protection and repair mechanisms . This modulation of multiple molecular systems appears capable of both conditioning neurons to resist future damage and accelerating repair of neurons damaged by a previous or continuing insult .

Clinical Trials Of Nir Light:

GROUNDBREAKING TRIAL//RED LIGHT THERAPY FOR PARKINSON’S REDUCES SYMPTOMS AND IMPROVES GUT MICROBIOME

Intracerebral NIR 670 nm implanted device

The Clinical Trial for Near Infrared Endoventricular Illumination is taking place in France and is being conducted by one of the pioneers in deep brain stimulation surgery. In this trial, a device is implanted in the brain that emits NIR light.

Transcranial and intranasal NIR stimulation

This trial is testing two other delivery methods of NIR light a helmet with light sources and intranasal delivery.

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Nir For Alzheimers Disease

The majority of the studies reporting beneficial effects of NIr treatment in Alzheimers disease or dementia have been in transgenic animal models, in particular those displaying -amyloid , or tau pathologies .1). In general, with either acute or more chronic NIr treatment, these studies have reported reductions in -amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles of hyperphosphorylated tau protein, inflammation and oxidative stress, together with increased ATP levels and improved overall mitochondrial function. In addition, NIr reduced the characteristic cognitive deficits associated with the CD1 and APP/PS1 transgenic mouse models. One in vitro study reported that, after internalization of -amyloid into human neuroblastoma cells, NIr treatment increased ATP levels and overall cell number, while reducing -amyloid aggregates .

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The Potential Of Light Therapy In Parkinson’s Disease

Accepted for publication 10 December 2013

18 February 2014Volume 2014:4Pages 114

Introduction

The current gold standard treatments for Parkinsons disease are very effective at attenuating the motor signs, at least initially. However, they do not reliably slow the progression of the disease neurons continue to die during the course of treatment. The discovery of new therapeutic approaches that offer neuroprotection against parkinsonian insult is therefore paramount. In this context, several recent studies in animal models of Parkinsons disease, as well as other models of disease , have reported that red to infrared light therapy can be neuroprotective. There is real potential for the development of light therapy as a treatment option for Parkinsons disease patients one that slows the ongoing neuronal death and progression of the disease.

Overview of Parkinsons disease

Current therapies for Parkinsons disease

Dopamine drug therapy

In general, these drug treatments have very good early symptomatic effects, but their longer-term neuroprotective or disease modifying effects are far from clear. For example, although drugs such as selegiline and rasagiline have been tested as putative neuroprotective agents in clinical trials, their ability to actually stop neuronal death and slow the pathology of the disease has yet to be demonstrated.26

Surgical treatment

Putative neuroprotective treatments

What is light therapy and how does it offer neuroprotection?

Cell survival

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Linking Mitochondrial Dysfunction With Pd

The mitochondrial theory of PD is based on observations in which disease processes impairing oxidative phosphorylation, mitochondrial biogenesis or mitophagy manifest as phenotypes that share common Parkinsonian features. The first link between PD and mitochondrial dysfunction was conceived by Langston after observing rapidly developing Parkinsonian features in intravenous drug abusers who were exposed to 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridine , a toxin whose metabolite 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium inhibits mitochondrial complex I . Once in the central nervous system, MPP+ is taken up by the dopamine active transporter and induces the selective degeneration of SNpc dopaminergic neurons. This phenomenon has been successfully reproduced in MPTP-treated rodents and nonhuman primates, popularizing these animal models for PD research . Complementing the findings in MPTP, rotenone, a pesticide that inhibits mitochondrial complex I, produced similar PD-like locomotor deficits in treated animals. Despite it having widespread uptake in the central nervous system, the toxic effects of rotenone are most pronounced in SNpc dopaminergic neurons, reinforcing the belief that neurons with greater susceptibility to energy perturbances would be affected the most . Further evidence is gleaned from epidemiological studies, which identified rotenone-exposed agrarian populations to be at greater risk of developing PD .

Everything You Need To Know About Red Light Therapy And Parkinson’s Disease

The potential of light therapy in Parkinson

Emerging research on red light therapy for Parkinson’s shows great promise for patients suffering from this neurological disorder. Although medications may help control symptoms, they cannot repair the underlying nerve damage that is characteristic of Parkinsons. As red light therapy works at the cellular level, it can help heal the nerve damage, and also relieve symptoms of the disease.

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Peripheral Clock Gene Expression

Hair follicles were collected by gripping and tugging the hair shaft with a pair of tweezers and were quickly soaked in Lysis Solution . Hair follicle cells attached to the hair shafts were stored at 20°C until RNA purification. Approximately 210 scalp hair follicles were required to detect clock gene expression at each sampling timepoint. To minimize skin damage, samples were obtained from different regions of the scalp. The RNAqueous-Micro Kit was used with frozen cytolysis solution to purify total RNA. After checking the quality and concentration using a NanoDrop , total RNA was reverse-transcribed using a SuperScript VILO cDNA Synthesis Kit , and real-time PCR was performed using a TaqMan MGB probe and a 1/20 volume of the reverse transcription product. Data were obtained using a PRISM7300 and corrected by 18S ribosomal RNA , the expression of which is constant regardless of cell type and sampling time. The sequences of the primers and probe for the Per3, Nr1d1 , Nr1d2 and 18S-rRNA transcripts are listed in our previous report.

Infrared Light And Parkinsons Disease: Is There A Connection

Parkinsons Disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that affects neurons in the brain and their ability to regulate dopamine. This can cause difficulties with muscle rigidity, speech, mobility, tremors, and many other areas of functioning. While there are medications that can help, there is currently no cure for Parkinsons.

The disease usually progresses as mobility and speech become further impaired.

However, there has been some interesting research into treating Parkinsons with infrared light. Multiple researchers have found beneficial effects of Near Infrared light for the treatment of Parkinsons .

These studies found that NIR is neuroprotective . However, many of these studies involved intercranial NIR, meaning that surgery was performed to allow NIR to penetrate the cranium or skull. However, a recent study by Stone et al found that even using light on the body and excluding the head produced neuroprotective factors , leading them to believe that the immune system is also involved in the benefits of NIR for Parkinsons. Researchers also found that there were no side effects for patients receiving the NIR.

Stone, J, Johnstone, D, Mitrofanis, J. 2013. The helmet experiment in Parkinsons disease: An observation of the mechanism of neuroprotection by near infra-red light. Proceedings of the 9th World Association for Laser Therapy Congress, WALT 2012

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Low Level Laser To Improve Parkinsons

More encouraging clinical research in the field of Low Level Laser to improve Parkinsons Disease, published in BMC Neurology. The work carried out by Liebert, et al , was described as a prospective proof-of-concept study, that showed improvements in clinical signs of Parkinsons disease using photobiomodulation .Read the full Report.

In summary the study outlined:

Background: Parkinsons disease is a porgressive neurodegenerative disease with you cure and few treatment option. It has a high incidence in ageing populations and is potentially a COVID-19 sequela. Photobiomodulation has been successfully used in animal models to reduce the signs of Parkinsons and to protect dopaminergic neutrons.

Objective: A combination of transcranial and remote treatment was employed to inform on best practice for a larger randomised placebo controlled trial .

Methods: 12 participants with idiopathic Parkinsons disease were recruited. 6 began 12 weeks of transcranial, intranasal and abdominal Low Level Laser Therapy. The other 6 were waitlisted for 14 weeks before commencing the same therapy protocols. Participants were assessed for mobility, motor skills, balance and cognition before treatment began, after 4 weeks of treatment and after 12 weeks of treatment.

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Light Therapy Trials For Parkinsons

The benefits of a novel infrared light therapy devices to people living with Parkinsons will be evaluated in an international research study involving Flinders University in Adelaide.

Sydney-based medtech company Symbyx last month announced a worlds first randomised control clinical trial to build on promising results from an earlier pilot study.

The company is working with research groups in Adelaide, Sydney and Canada on the first long-term, double-blinded, placebo trial of the technology to assess the effects of light therapy on motor and non-motor skills in Parkinsons patients over a much longer period this year.

Users have reported greater mobility and fine motor skills, as well as improved cognition, including better mood , sleep and even the return of a sense of smell.

The Flinders University trial protocols will broadly follow those currently under investigation in the Parkinsons RCT being undertaken in Toronto, Canada.

Funded and led by The Hospital Research Foundation Group Parkinsons, the principal investigator of the Adelaide trial will be Dr Joyce Ramos, Lecturer in Clinical Exercise Physiology at Flinders University.

Recruitment for the six-month randomised clinical study will commence in coming months, led by The Hospital Research Foundation Group Parkinsons team. Executive director, Ms Olivia Nassaris, says Christmas Appeal and philanthropic donations will fund the trial.

The Integrated Care Management Model By Seniorbridge

Home care services vary widely in the services they provide.

SeniorBridge offers an integrated care management practice model that involves two components:

  • Clinical care supported by a Social Worker and a team of caregivers, based on patients needs and
  • A portfolio of home care services and geriatric care management in such areas as nutrition, caregiver education, benefit coordination, transportation, and coordination with discharge planners, physicians, pharmacy, home health agencies, and care managers.
  • NOTE: We have full COVID-19 safety protocols in place to keep clients, families and associates safe.

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    How Does It Work

    It uses specific wavelengths of light that can harmlessly penetrate the skin and tissues. Light therapy primarily focuses on treatment via the gut or abdomen. There’s ongoing research into a potential link between the gut and the brain, especially when it comes to the start and progression of Parkinsons. Whilst the link hasnt been fully proven yet, we do know that some people report digestive problems or constipation many years before a Parkinson’s diagnosis. It’s thought that light therapy to the gut could decrease inflammation, allowing it to function more normally. The small-scale clinical trials currently being reported indicate light therapy could improve mitochondrial function, the power stations of your cells, improving energy levels and decreasing fatigue. Treatment was also associated with reduced pain in people with Parkinsons using the device.

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