Risk Of Bias And Quality Assessment
Detailed reasons for assessing the risk of bias are recorded in the Characteristics of studies. In the Risk of bias tables, we recorded this information and presented a summary Risk of bias figure . We considered 4 studies at low risk and Videnovic 2017 at unclear risk of bias due to insufficient information on how the random assignment was performed. All trials reported adequate blinding of the outcome assessor and participants. We did not find incomplete outcome data or selective reporting. The studies were found to be low risk of bias when these studies were subjected to the Cochrane Collaborations Tool for Quality Assessment of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Risk of bias assessment of each included study. Risk of bias graph. Risk of bias summary. Review Manager 5.4 was used to create the pictures.
Clinical Trials Of Nir Light:
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.
Red Light Therapy For Parkinsons
There is a keen interest in the Parkinsons community about the potential effectiveness of red light therapy or laser light therapy for the treatment of Parkinsons symptoms. It is one of the most frequently asked questions by our InfoLine callers.
This type of potential treatment is more accurately known as photobiomodulation or PBM.
Parkinsons NSW endorses evidence-based research and therapies which have been rigorously evaluated using scientific methodologies. To date, no large-scale studies or peer reviewed scientific research have established the safety and effectiveness of PBM for treating the symptoms of Parkinsons.
There are, however, some promising smaller scale studies going on which will eventually ramp up to full scale studies if initial results justify it.
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.
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Very Grateful To Have It
on 2021-01-07
I have been using my coronet for 2 months now and continue to show an improvement from its use. I still use it twice a day and find things start to wear off after about 8 hours. My tremor in my left hand has greatly improved. My speaking is becoming clearer and my mind has me back doing cryptic crosswords. If I can do them, it must be helping. I sleep well and have no depression or stress. Walking continues to be a problem and I am doing exercises to try and build up my leg strengths. All in all, I am very grateful to have it. Also, my wife tells me that the thrashing of arms while I sleep has gone.
Les, NSW, Australia
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A combination of 100 red lights and 62 LED blue lights work to even out your skin, whether youre someone who has fine lines, age spots or discoloration.
With three different modes at the push of a button, you can provide more targeted relief to your skin turn on red light mode if youre looking for more anti-aging benefits, or blue light to fight acne related issues. A third mode combines both the red and blue light modes for the best of both worlds. The mask will turn off automatically after three minutes.
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How Is The Light Being Delivered
In studies using white light, the eyes are used to detect the light. The light is therefore delivered via a lightbox or a screen.
Near Infrared Light is not in the wavelength range that is detectable by eye. It is thought that to be used as a therapy, it needs to be delivered more directly to brain tissue. Therefore, other delivery methods have been devised.
Additional delivery methods include:
- Via a helmet containing light sources that is worn on the head the light is meant to penetrate through the skin and skull
- Via a light-emitting device that is implanted in the brain
What is the brightness of the light?Many clinical trials for light therapy used Lux levels in the 10,000 range. Light brightness per area is measured in Lux. A moonless night would register 0.0001 Lux. A very dark overcast day would register 100 Lux. Full daylight would register 10,000 Lux.
What is the length of a session of light therapy?
For light therapy to be feasible to incorporate into a persons day, a practical amount of time spent in front of the light needs to be selected. Past trials have used times ranging from 30 min to 1.5 hours a day.
How many sessions of light therapy are given?
Variables to consider here include how often would the therapy need to be given during the day ? How many times a week? For how many weeks? Does the treatment need to be ongoing or do the effects of the treatment last after the treatments are stopped?
What time of day is the therapy given?
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 .
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How Do Red Light Therapy Masks Work
Red light therapy is a clinically studied, FDA-approved treatment that can help improve your skins overall appearance and texture, such as smoothing out wrinkles, scars and acne. To understand how these red light masks really work, we must first understand why things like wrinkles appear in the first place. Shane Miller, a licensed esthetician and the owner of the popular Instagram account @howtohydrate, attributes these changes in our skin to our skin cells, which are aging along with the rest of our bodies.
As we get older, our cells become larger. This makes it harder for them to divide and multiply, which slows our bodies ability to regenerate, he says.
This is where red light therapy masks can be a huge help to our tired skin cells: by delivering low-wavelength red light, these devices provide that previously missing energy to these cells. This energy is crucial in the continued the upkeep of our skins appearance and texture. Regularly using red light therapy masks in moderation can result in a healthy sheen, as well as a reduction in inflammation that may appear due to psoriasis, eczema and contact dermatitis.
Red light masks can come in different forms, either as masks you can wear to cover your face and neck , or under your eyes. For the purposes of this article, we focused on red light therapy face masks.
Effects Of Light Therapy On Sleep And Excessive Daytime Sleepiness
Multiple reports suggest that LT has beneficial effects on the sleep-wake cycle in patients with PD, enhancing sleep and daytime alertness. According to Willis et al, sleep parameters decreased by 50% in the 2-week trial, illustrating that sleep symptoms improved early in light therapy . Studies have shown that blue/green light can effectively stimulate melatonin and improve alertness . Other studies showed that the sensitivity of the blue-yellow pathway is higher in the early stage of PD . Exposure to blue/green light before bedtime can delay the peak of melatonin secretion, while waking up in the morning can increase daytime arousal . Fabin Lin et al also published a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCT regarding the effect of bright light therapy on depression and sleep disturbances in patients with PD, and they demonstrated that BLT was an effective intervention for improving depressive symptoms and sleep disturbances in patients with PD . Their results were similar to ours, but they only focused on BLT using 300010 000 lux.
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The Effects Of Red Light On Parkinsons
Here are some examples of how red light can help with the symptoms and underlying causes of Parkinsons disease.
Stimulation of Cellular Metabolism and Functioning
When red/NIR light photons are absorbed by photoreceptor molecules inside cells, there is an immediate surge in the production of ATP in the mitochondria. This stimulates vasodilation , which increases the flow of blood and lymphatic fluid.
It also leads to increased activity of genes responsible for neurogenesis and synaptogenesis . According to a 2017 study by Australian researcher John Mitrofanis, this chain reaction leads to healthier neurons that can better protect and repair themselves from oxidative stress and other damage. As Mitrofanis writes in the published study:
As it stands, light therapy in the experimental setting has been shown to both protect and rescue neurons from degeneration after parkinsonian injury, something that current therapies in patients do not do.
Red light affects cells not only in the brain but throughout the entire body. Along with being stimulated and energized to perform at their best, cells also become less prone to the degenerative effects of Parkinsons and other disorders.
Direct and Indirect Effects and Neuroprotection
A University of Sydney article explored how transcranial photobiomodulation could positively affect PD patients. The researchers believe that NIR light could have three effects:
Reducing Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Nitrosative Stress
Parkinson’s: It Starts From The Gut
âYou take something like your sense of smell for granted,â Jarrett, 72, said. âYou donât realize how precious something is until itâs gone.â
Parkinsonâs disease combines movement disorders, including resting tremors, muscle rigidity, impaired balance, and movement slowness. It can also cause neurological problems such as depression, insomnia, memory loss, and confusion.
Its cause is unknown, but it is associated with dopamine depletion and destruction of neurons in the brain’s basal ganglia region.
The current mainstay of treatment for Parkinsonâs disease involves physical therapy and medications that act to increase dopamine levels in the brain. One relatively new therapy for Parkinsonâs is exposure to infrared light.
Dr. Ann Liebert, co-ordinator of photomolecular research at the Australasian Research Institute, has been exploring the idea of using infrared light to modulate the gastrointestinal tractâs microbiome in humans.
The reason for this is unknown. However, an interesting observation is that another common pathology seen in Parkinsonâs disease is the accumulation of misfolded proteins, called Lewy bodies, in the brain. It has been shown that certain sensory cells of the gut contain these same proteins.
âWe know that infrared light can reduce Parkinsonâs symptoms and offer protection to brain cells. So, we wanted to test if it could modulate the gutâs microbiome as well,â Liebert said.
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Could Light Hold The Key To Help Manage Parkinsons Symptoms Or Even Have A Protective Effect On Brain Cells This Blog Explores The Research Evidence And What The Future Might Hold
Light has a huge impact on life from sustaining the plants we eat to allowing us to see, everyone of us is dependent on the power of light.
The power of light has been investigated in many conditions, and although it is still very much an experimental technique, there is research to suggest that light therapy can have protective and restorative properties. There is also evidence that light can alter our sleep, mood and behaviour.
So why is light relevant to Parkinsons?In Parkinsons it is the loss of dopamine producing brain cells that cause both movement symptoms and other symptoms known as non-motor symptoms such as problems sleeping, depression, and loss of motivation.
Research is being done to look at whether treatment using light could offer protection to struggling brain cells to potentially slow down the progression of Parkinsons. And research is also looking into how light, in various forms, could be used to directly manage the symptoms of Parkinsons.
This is a fascinating topic as researchers try to unpick why cells that sit in the middle of the brain, in complete darkness could be protected, or even healed, by light. How do cells in the eye signal to the deepest parts of the brain? Or is it that light is being absorbed by specific components in cells activating and providing energy for the body to promote brain cell survival, protection or regeneration?
Lets explore some of the ways light is being looked at with regard to Parkinsons research.
Near Infrared Chronic Intracranial Illumination For Neuroprotection In Parkinsons Disease
Objective/Rationale: The treatment of Parkinsons Disease is based on medication and on surgical procedures. These therapies alleviate symptoms but do not change the evolution of the disease, which is a progressive degeneration of the neurons producing dopamine in the brain. This degeneration is in part due to an abnormal functioning of the mitochondrias that produce energy in these neurons. There is evidence that infrared light can counteract this mitochondrial dysfunction.
Project Description: We will develop a prototype to deliver continuously into patients brains infrared light to slow down the loss of these dopaminergic neurons by improving their mitochondrial function. Human application requires checking the safety of the invented devices in laboratory pre-clinical models. An implantable prototype is being assembled from parts already made by industrial companies for deep brain stimulation. It will be implanted in models to check the safety of the surgical procedure and the long term tolerance of this device. The proof of principle of the therapeutic effect also has to be made. We will implant the device in models rendered parkinsonian by administration of the neurotoxin MPTP and observe the evolution of this parkinsonian syndrome under the effect of this intracranial illumination.
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Usuie Red Light Therapy Belt
This lightweight red light therapy belt can be used to target specific areas on your body that may need a little tender love and care, thanks to the professional grade LED lights that penetrates your skin tissue and muscles with rejuvenating red light. Best of all, youre not limited to storing and using this at home you can take it with you, wherever you want. Wear it around your waist, your leg or sling it across your body like a crossbody bag.
Red Light Therapy For Parkinsons Disease
Parkinsons disease seems to be more common than ever before and has a profound effect on ones day-to-day life. There is a misconception that people who get diagnosed with Parkinsons disease are only of the senior demographic and elder population. When in fact, 5% of people with Parkinsons are diagnosed under the age of 60. Specifically, a majority of those diagnosed are in their 30s and 40s.
Parkinsons disease severity differentiates from person to person so its important to understand that each prognosis is unique and to be accompanied with different symptoms. On the bright side, its common to see people whom are in their early stages of Parkinsons disease diagnosis live a fairly normal life without the debilitating effects the disease may have.
Despite Parkinsons disease being a devastating illness with no known cures or treatments, there are ways to improve the symptoms through medication as well as lifestyle implementations that can have tremendous benefits to ones health and livelihood.
As mentioned, the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease can vary depending on the individual affected. While some may symptoms may even go unnoticed for many years.
The majority of those affected by Parkinsons disease experience:
Tremors: characterized by the shaking of limbs, hands or fingers.
Bradykinesia: The clinical term for slowed movement which becomes worse over time. It might affect the way the person walks and make it more difficult for them to lift their feet.
Causes
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Everything You Need To Know About Red Light Therapy And Parkinson’s Disease
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.
Circadian System A Novel Diagnostic And Therapeutic Target In Parkinson’s Disease
Our research then led us to discover that many, many workers have found similar positive results, and continue to do so. Even the benefits of strategic light therapy “simply” for improving sleep – which is typically chronically disrupted in people with PD – should not be understated. This because it is during periods of good sleep when the brain clears itself of waste products and the body repairs itself. Therefore for people who are already neuro-compromised, broken sleep and the resulting build of toxins in the brain is a fast track to a vicious circle of further degeneration.
Here, I am trying to keep an up-to-date list of articles on the science of all this:
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