Summary: According to research, transcranial infrared light therapy may aid in tissue repair following gentle mTBI. Short regularly infrared treatments in animal studies reduced harmful aggressive activity and cell death in the brain following injury. Four weeks later, the remedy improved mental and balance function, particularly with 810nm ultraviolet light.
This study might open the door to a new treatment choice for mTBI where available options are. The team is now working on creating a health system to provide this cutting-edge treatments to patients who have suffered from head or spinal cord injuries.
Important Facts:
- Post-mTBI, transcranial infrared light therapy lessens infection and cell death.
- In dog models, the cure improved mental and balance works.
- In comparison to other frequencies, 810nm ultraviolet light showed better treatment outcomes.
Origin: University of Birmingham
Researchers at Birmingham have demonstrated that transcranial light therapy, administered through the skull, can aid tissue repair following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI ).
Their study, published now in , Bioengineering &, Translational Medicine, indicates that this book process could result in a new therapy option in an area of medicine that already has few, if any, care options.  ,
When the initial trauma of head injury is amplified by a complex set of inflammatory changes that take place in the brain, the result is a term for trauma brain injury (mTBI ).  , These extra techniques, which take place from minutes to hours after brain injury, can significantly increase outcomes for patients.  ,
The method developed by University of Birmingham researchers in the United Kingdom and patented by University of Birmingham Enterprise aims to prevent this secondary damage and promote faster and more effective recovery for patients.
The Birmingham team, which included researchers Professor Zubair Ahmed, Professor Will Palin, Dr. Mohammed Hadis, and surgeons Andrew Stevens and Mr. David Davies, examined the impact of two wavelengths of near infrared light ( 660nm and 810nm ) on recovery from injury in the study.  ,
The study in animal models used daily two-minute bursts of infrared light, delivered by a laser, for three days post-injury.  ,
The findings revealed significant reductions in the levels of biochemical markers of apoptosis (cell death ) and significant reductions in the activation of astrocytes and microglial cells, which are highly implicated in the inflammatory processes in the brain that occur after head trauma.  ,
At four weeks, there were significant improvements in balance and cognitive function functional tests. Red light therapy also accelerated recovery as well as compared to controls, with better outcomes for light with a wavelength of 810nm.
The study builds on earlier research this year that demonstrated that direct infrared light delivered directly to the spinal cord injury increases nerve cell survival and encourages the growth of new nerve cells.
With the aim of enhancing patient outcomes, Professor Ahmed, who led the study, wants to turn this method into a medical device that can be used to enhance recovery for patients with traumatic brain or spinal cord injuries.
The researchers are looking for business partners to collaborate on the development and commercialization of the device.  ,
About this news about neurotech and TBI research
Author: Ruth Ashton
Source: University of Birmingham
Contact: Ruth Ashton – University of Birmingham
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access.
Zubair Ahmed and colleagues ‘ article,” Photobiomodulation improves functional recovery from mild traumatic brain injury.” Bioengineering &, Translational Medicine
Abstract
Photobiomodulation speeds up functional recovery following a mild traumatic brain injury.
There are no recognized interventions to promote the recovery of the brain, but mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI ) is a common consequence of head injuries. In adult rat hippocampal organotypic slice cultures, we previously demonstrated that photobiomodulation ( PBM ) significantly reduced the number of apoptotic cells.
We conducted cadaveric studies to calibrate 660 and 810 nm lasers for the transcutaneous delivery of PBM to the cortical surface in this study. We first tuned the PBM delivery parameters for use in mTBI. We then used an in vivo weight drop mTBI model in adult rats and delivered daily optimized doses of 660, 810 nm, or combined 660/8 10 nm PBM.
Histology and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate the mTBI neuropathology, while functional recovery was assessed using novel object recognition ( NOR ) and beam balance tests.
We found that PBM at 810, 660 nm, or 810/660 nm all significantly improved both NOR and beam balance performance, with 810 nm PBM having the greatest effects.
Histology demonstrated no overt structural damage in the brain after mTBI, however, immunohistochemistry using brain sections showed significantly reduced activation of both CD11b+ , microglia and glial fibrillary acidic protein ( GFAP ) + , astrocytes at 3 days post-injury.
After receiving PBM, there were also significant reductions in the cortical localization of the apoptosis marker, cleaved caspase-3, and modest reductions in the extracellular matrix deposition. These changes were limited to the choroid plexus and periventricular areas.
Our findings suggest that 810 nm PBM could be a useful potential regenerative therapy because it significantly improved functional outcomes following mTBI, decreased astrocyte/microglial activation markers, and improved apoptosis-related markers.
