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.
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.
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.
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What Parkinson’s Takes Away
Parkinsons is both a neurological and movement disorder which occurs when brain cells producing dopamine slowly begin to die off.When dopamine levels get too low, neurons start to fire more randomly, leading to the classic symptoms of Parkinsons tremour, rigidity and/or stiff muscles, slowness of movement and unstable posture.Additionally, patients may experience problems sleeping, decreased sense of smell, depression or anxiety and problems with more typical brain functions such as planning, making decisions or paying attention.
Mood And Sleep Related
Seasonal affective disorder
The effectiveness of light therapy for treating seasonal affective disorder may be linked to the fact that light therapy makes up for lost sunlight exposure and resets the body’s internal clock. Studies show that light therapy helps reduce the debilitating and depressive behaviors of SAD, such as excessive sleepiness and fatigue, with results lasting for at least 1 month. Light therapy is preferred over antidepressants in the treatment of SAD because it is a relatively safe and easy therapy. Two methods of light therapy, bright light and dawn simulation, have similar success rates in the treatment of SAD.
It is possible that response to light therapy for SAD could be season dependent. Morning therapy has provided the best results because light in the early morning aids in regulating the circadian rhythm. People affected by SAD have low levels of energy and have difficulty concentrating. They usually have a change in appetite and experience trouble sleeping.
A Cochrane review conducted in 2019 states the evidence that light therapy’s effectiveness as a treatment for the prevention of seasonal affective disorder is limited, although the risk of adverse effects are minimal. Therefore, the decision to use light therapy should be based on a person’s preference of treatment.
Non-seasonal depression
Chronic circadian rhythm sleep disorders
Circadian rhythm sleep disorders and jet lag
Sleep disorder in Parkinson’s disease
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Barriers To Popularizing Nir As A Neuroprotective Modality For Pd
Figure 2. Alternative sites for implantation of NIR delivery device apart from the ventral midbrain. Wirelessly powered NIR delivery devices in the 3rd ventricle and the sphenoid sinus , both of which are close to the ventral midbrain. Insertion of the device into the 3rd ventricle can be achieved safely via a straight trajectory traversing the Foramen of Monroe. Insertion of the NIR device within the SS in the posterior part of the nasal cavity can be achieved using an endoscopic endonasal approach. Abbreviations: FoM, foramen of Monroe NIR, near-infrared SNpc, substantia nigra pars compacta SS, sphenoid sinus.
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Are There Any Cons To Red Light Therapy
Red light therapy appears to be safe for most healthy adults. However, because there is a lack of research about this procedure, we do not know the long-term effects of it. There may be complications of using red light therapy too often or incorrectly.
It is always important to talk with your healthcare provider before starting any new health regimen. If you have sensitive skin or diabetes, do not use red light therapy without talking with your healthcare team. Red light therapy has not been proven safe for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
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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
How Does Light Therapy Work
Light therapy is the non-thermal delivery of lightwaves with therapeutic benefit. At an optimal wavelength , intensity and exposure time, light aimed at human tissue starts a cascade of biochemical reactions that effectively increase cell energy, reduce pain, inflammation and even Parkinson’s symptoms. In fact, this type of stimulation can effectively reset a person’s entire nervous system.
PDCare Laser therapy encourages greater bacterial fermentation of dietary fibre in a person’s colon. This, in turn, lifts the production of certain critical gut metabolites called short chain fatty acids . One SCFA, in particular, called Butyrate has many positive health effects – reducing inflammation, increasing the integrity of our digestive lining and blood brain barrier and increased dopamine signalling in both the peripheral and central nervous systems.
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Effect Of Light Therapy On Motor Function
According to the UPDRS III scoring system, 4 studies reported that light therapy could significantly improve motor function. Paus et al reported improvement of tremor, bradykinesia, and rigidity, but the control light was too strong to form an effective contrast . It has been reported that patients without tremors secrete less melatonin than patients with severe tremors . We speculate that the improvement of motor function is due to the regulation of circadian rhythm, inhibiting melatonin and promote dopamine secretion . The biological clock of the retina may indirectly affect the dopamine rhythm by adjusting the melatonin rhythm, or it may directly affect the biological clock of dopamine secretion by dopamine neurons . Secondly, light can cause retinal dopamine neurons to secrete dopamine . studies have shown that infrared light, but not red light, can protect damaged dopamine neurons . Another possible explanation is that LT can protect dopamine neurons and increase dopamine secretion.
Circadian System A Novel Diagnostic And Therapeutic Target In Parkinsons 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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Effect Of Light Therapy On Other Non
In addition to depression, sleep disturbance, and excessive daytime sleepiness, our study demonstrates that fatigue and anxiety are also significantly improved by LT in patients with PD. The study by Paus et al showed that LT significantly improved mood in patients with PD . In winter, the spectrum changes, and the blue light component decreases. Blue light has been shown to effectively promote the brains processing of emotions . ipRGCs in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and the perihabenular nucleus are the 2 retinabrain pathways that regulate lights effects on emotion and cognition .
Inclusion And Exclusion Criteria
The review included all including different methods to compare LT with control treatment. The inclusion criteria were: according to the accepted criteria, participants must be diagnosed with idiopathic PD by a neurologist , accompanied by different degrees of excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep disorders, depression, and other related symptoms all patients in the included studies were treated with a stable PD regimen for at least 4 weeks before inclusion if participants take sedatives, hypnotics, or psychotropic drugs simultaneously, they should also take them consistently for at least 4 weeks to avoid interfering with the evaluation. Exclusion criteria were: Eye diseases that interfere with vision Cognitive impairment Serious mental illness Severe dyskinesia.
We included various forms with LT as active interventions, such as bright light and blue-green light. We did not limit LT in terms of duration, time of day, device, or wavelength. Acceptable control interventions were any form of light less than 300 lux.
We excluded studies that were duplicates, irrelevant, marked as ineligible by automation tools, did not meet the inclusion criteria, or were not retrieved. The excluded articles and detailed reasons for exclusion are listed in the Characteristics of studies file.
After integration, we selected 5 primary outcomes and 3 secondary outcomes .
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Thankful For Getting This
on 2021-12-28
Just one week, I feel better sleep, better mood, and stronger in the ON time. I was diagnosed 5 years ago. Hoping to get more benefits in the coming days. Thanks very much to the researchers of Coronet, and thank God to give them wisdom and love for the patients. Have bought the 2nd one for my friend.
Durham Region Light Therapy For Facial
Infrared Therapy is also sometimes called photo therapy, light therapy, infrared light therapy, LED therapy or Pulsed Light therapy .
Much research and clinical trials in Durham Region have been performed to establish the efficacy and safety of LED Light Therapy. Infrared Light Therapy has been proven to not only improve circulation and assist in pain relieve, but also to ease symptoms of conditions resulting from bad circulation, including chronic wounds and numbness and pain.
Research has found that light causes changes in the bodys hormonal balance. Light rays can be converted into electrochemical impulses that are sent to glands that stimulate the production of hormones that are distributed via the central nervous system to the cells. This causes a multitude of reactions that are manifested in our behaviour. Light plays an essential role in the effective functioning of the endocrine system.
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What Can Red Light Therapy Treat
Skin conditions that may benefit from red light therapy include:
- Acne: More research is needed but red light therapy may treat acne by lowering the amount of inflammation and oil in the skin.
- Hair loss: Red light therapy may stimulate new hair growth in both men and women experiencing alopecia or hair loss.
- Signs of aging: Red light therapy may improve the appearance of the skin that has been damaged by ultraviolet rays from the sun. It works by stimulating collagen production to minimize wrinkles and tighten the skin.
- Chronic wounds: The wavelengths from red light may stimulate new growth of skin cells and blood vessels. This increased circulation could speed up wound healing.
- Psoriasis: Red light therapy is a common treatment for mild to moderate psoriasis because of its ability to lower inflammation in the skin.
- Cold sores: Red light therapy may be an effective treatment for herpes cold sores. The procedure may even prevent cold sores but more research is needed to establish this link.
Other conditions that red light therapy may improve include:
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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Trial Sequential Analysis And Publication Bias
We performed TSA on the primary outcome. In TSA for motor function, the cumulative Z-curve crossed the trial sequential monitoring boundaries , indicating the conclusion was sufficient and no more trials were needed. The cumulative Z-score did not cross the RIS for depression, daytime sleepiness, and sleep. The cumulative Z-curve did not cross the trial sequential monitoring boundaries , suggesting that further trials are required . All the P values for the 5 primary outcomes were over 0.05 using Eggers test. Funnel plots and Eggers test, as 2 methods used to evaluate publication bias for selected outcomes of LT for Parkinson disease, did not exhibit significant publication bias .
Funnel plot of the estimated publication bias of primary and secondary outcomes. motor function, depression, daytime sleepiness, sleep, adverse events, fatigue, anxiety, and quality of life. Stata was used to create the figures.
I Am Getting My Life Back
on 2021-08-31
In September 2020 I tripped on some uneven concrete, stumbled and then fell, breaking my jaw in a guardsman fracture. The break was almost at the top of the left condyle, which meant that surgery wasn’t an option. The bone was unable to be wired. So treatment was no treatment and a diet of pureed food. It seemed to be healing nicely. But exactly four weeks later, I woke up one morning, sure that the jaw had broken afresh. I have had varying degrees of discomfort with it since then. Jaw exercises helped to some degree, but my daily living was adversely affected. Up until then, I had been fairly successful in keeping the Parkinson’s at bay with a mixture of yogs, qi gung, tai chi, walking, climbing stairs and PD Warrior exercises. The main problem was that I was unable to exercise. Predictably, the Parkinson’s worsened and for the first time in eight years, I started having “Off” times. My long-held belief that I could beat this thing was shaken to the core. My confidence was king-hit. I shilly-shallied making the simplest of decisions, often changing my mind – again- midway through something. Enter the Coronet – and its side effects. I started having positive improvements in my jaw – within days. It was nothing short of amazing! So I am seeing light at the end of the tunnel. The “Off” times are decreasing both in length and severity. I am getting my life back. I have every confidence that things will continue to improve.
Kathy from Cairns
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It Has Been A Good Investment
on 2021-07-18
I have been using the Coronet twice a day, religiously for about a month and advise as follows:
1 I feel stronger and friends and family have observed I am walking better They did not know I was using the Coronet, I no longer use my walker in our apartment. My legs still occasionally freeze but nowhere near as much.
2 My balance is better, I have been at risk of falling over only once this last month, compared to the previous month when I received 7 stitches above my eye when I fell over. I concede this result may be because my body didnt like the experience and is doing an auto cautionary adjustment.
3 Im experiencing improved movement, getting in and out of the car, writing has improved.
4 Some of the above comments came from recent acquaintances who were unaware that I was using the Coronet, some came from long standing friends and a few from family. One long standing friend whom I meet every month was astounded at how easily I moved in and out of his car. Over time he has been increasing his help to me getting in and out of his car.
5 Generally I feel my hand-eye co-ordination has improved, not only my handwriting, but throwing a tennis ball and catching it cleanly. I expect to be able to juggle in an elementary sense, quite soon.
Sam Cannon
Ameliorating Impact On Symptoms Of The Lower Light Levels Of Winter
I’ve had a foreboding about the changing of the clocks, shortening of the days, lower light levels generally, more overcast days, as winter arrives. Last winter was tough for me, with much than symptoms than the summer – more “off” time, less access to movement, more pain and rigidity. This was particularly so in the evenings after the sun went down, and more brain fog in the daytime if the sky was overcast. Artificial “yellowish” lights didn’t seem to help.
Bright light lamps for Seasonal Affective Disorder, and wearable technology like my blue light glasses and my DopaLights definetly help this winter effect to not be as bad it could be, but there is a limit to how much I can use these without incurring other symptom penalties. Furthermore, they are hard to use properly when I am really off, e.g. sitting near enough to the SAD lamp long enough, or manipulating the wearables to actually get them on or off.
As expected, as this year turned, and especially after the clocks went back an hour at the end of the October, I started to get more and more symptomatic again. In looking for potential solutions to this, I stumbled on this very bright “natural white light” LED room uplighter on amazon. So I bought it to try, because it is essentially a SAD lamp on a stick!
This bright light based solution has been working very well for me, and indeed this winter I am faring better even than I was in the summer!
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