New Treatment For Parkinsons Disease
A new treatment for life-robbing Parkinsons disease is set to be trialled in Sydney following reports of good results using light therapy.
Results from a previous light therapy trial in Adelaide published in the BMC Neurology journal, showed enhanced senses and improved cognition, mood and sleep, mobility, balance, and fine motor skills among patients.
Watch the video above to find out how the new life-changing technology uses waves of light to treat Parkinsons sufferer Margaret Jarrett
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The SYMBYX trial conducted with Parkinsons SA, used the light therapy known as photobiomodulation on two small groups of patients, all diagnosed with Parkinsons disease.
The study reported no adverse side effects and that the therapy was a safe and potentially effective treatment.
Parkinsons disease is an incurable, progressive neurological illness affecting between 10 and 15 million people worldwide.
Its the worlds fastest growing neurological disease, with symptoms including tremors, muscle rigidity, difficulty walking and swallowing, loss of smell, depression and anxiety.
Caused by a lack of dopamine, a chemical produced by both the brain and the gut to help promote and control body movement, the light therapy treatments work by stimulating dopamine production in the gut.
I dont know how its happening, but its happening and thats all I care about, she said.
Past Data On Light Therapy For Parkinsons Disease
Many studies of light therapy in animal models of PD have supported the testing of light therapy in people with PD.
There have been nine completed clinical trials so far. Seven investigated white light, one investigated blue light, and one investigated NIR light, and each selected a set of variables to utilize in conducting the clinical trial. The white light trials tested intensities ranging from 1000-10,000 lux and duration of light exposure ranging from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours. The trials also varied when the light stimulation was presented either in the morning , in the evening or twice daily.
Although the trials were small, all of them showed promising results as it related to improvement of various PD symptoms.
Trial: Case series 2007Light parameters: 1000-1500 Lux for 1-1.5 hours, one hour prior to sleep# of patients: 12Results: Improvement in various motor and non-motor symptoms: Willis and Turner
Light parameters: Transcranial and intra-oral infrared light # of patients: 22Results: Montreal cognitive assessment remained stable over the 4 weeks of treatment. There were some trends to improvement in fine motor tasks, but did not reach statistical significance: Bullock-Saxton, et alReference:
In Depth: Dr Greg Willis
In the early years of dopamine theory it was generally accepted that the more severe the cell loss, the more severe the dopamine deficiency and the more severe the Parkinsons disease. However, this position has been very gradually eroded by the ongoing demonstration that this relationship is a poor one. In fact, recent work has demonstrated that Parkinsons disease can develop with only 30% loss of dopamine 715-725, 2010) suggesting that it is not only the level of dopamine that is important. This has important implications for treating the disease and is consistent with our approach using coordinated drug and light treatment.
Willis understanding of the mechanisms of Parkinsons Disease is a little different from the standard, accepted picture. He argues that it is not just about the lack of production of dopamine but that the balance between dopamine and melatonin, the substance responsible for making us sleepy, is whats broken. It is this imbalance, he argues, which can cause many of the symptoms of PD. so its not just that there isnt enough dopamine in the system, but there is actually too much melatonin, relatively speaking.
In his latest paper with co-workers, Dr Willis provides a good description of the protocol his clinic employs:
The same article also covers issues with why bright light therapy might not initially work for every person with PD:
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Light Therapy And Parkinsons
NIr therapy works by using infrared illumination to treat brain tissue affected by a lack of oxygen, toxic environments, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondria help to produce energy in cells and play a role in regulating cell function when working properly. NIr attempts to reduce cell damage and death by protecting the dopamine-producing neurons.2 NIr has been shown to reduce tissue inflammation and improve mitochondrial function.
It is not a targeted therapy because it works on the neural symptoms of many conditions by reducing the neurodegenerative process. Light therapy targets the brain and therefore it is likely to impact multiple facets of neural functioning. Studies have yielded results that show improvement in cognitive, emotional, and executive function.
Photobiomodulation is the ability of light to modulate biological processes at a cellular level.4 The use of controlled exposure of red to infrared wavelengths of light have successfully improved healing, reduced inflammation and pain. It has done this by improving mitochondrial function and stimulating antioxidant pathways in the brain. Photobiomodualtion has been therapeutically effective to improve the recovery rate for other medical conditions, and has shown promise in the lab for people and animals with PD.
Strategic use of specific light applied at a targeted time of day for a specific length of time should be able to attack melatonin, and reduce it, thus restoring dopamine balance.5
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What can you tell me about laser light therapy and Parkinsons
Thursday August 16, 2012
Turns out light can stimulate cells to behave differently. Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine studied the effect of a low-level, near-infrared laser on nerve cells taken from people with Parkinsons disease. The research was done in cells taken from people with Parkinsons and compared to non-Parkinsons cells. A single, brief treatment with a 810 nm low-level, near-infrared laser increased the velocity of mitochondrial cells for 2 hours approaching the rate of mitochondria in non-PD cells. Mitochondria are the energy producing components of the cell and their activity is reduced in PD. Energy is needed for cell growth and maintaining cell health. Enhancing the functioning of mitochondria in cells taken from patients with PD may reduced the cell death seen with PD.
Light therapy is not new to brain disease. For instance full spectrum light is helpful for people suffering from seasonal depression. While promising, this research was tested in cells outside the body and much work needs to be done to develop light treatment inside the body of live individuals with PD.
Research was published in Molecular Neurodegeneration on June 17, 2009.
Monique L. Giroux, MD
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Are There Any Risks For Me In Taking Part
All tests used in the assessment of your eyes, movement and sleep are commonly used in clinical practice. We will ensure that you receive optimal care in all tests performed, and we are focused on your health and well-being.
The research team does not believe there are any risks beyond normal day-to-day living associated with performing these tests.
Supplemental Light therapy is commonly used in studies as well as a self-therapy at home in people who experience sleep problems or winter depression or other mood disorders. There are no severe risks reported in clinical trials using light therapy.
In a very small proportion of people the most common discomfort some might experience is temporary headaches that go away when light therapy is discontinued. It should be noted that if you do agree to participate you can withdraw from participation in the research project without comment or penalty.
Are There Any Benefits For Me In Taking Part
You might also enjoy being actively involved in your own care by applying the light. We offer you also one on one time with experts in the field of this research through the research team members. In the long term, we hope that our research will provide better treatment options of sleep disruption and consequently movement in all people with Parkinsons disease.
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Light Therapy And Parkinson’s
NIr therapy works by using infrared illumination to treat brain tissue affected by a lack of oxygen, toxic environments, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondria help to produce energy in cells and play a role in regulating cell function when working properly. NIr attempts to reduce cell damage and death by protecting the dopamine-producing neurons.2 NIr has been shown to reduce tissue inflammation and improve mitochondrial function.
It is not a targeted therapy because it works on the neural symptoms of many conditions by reducing the neurodegenerative process. Light therapy targets the brain and therefore it is likely to impact multiple facets of neural functioning. Studies have yielded results that show improvement in cognitive, emotional, and executive function.
Photobiomodulation is the ability of light to modulate biological processes at a cellular level.4 The use of controlled exposure of red to infrared wavelengths of light have successfully improved healing, reduced inflammation and pain. It has done this by improving mitochondrial function and stimulating antioxidant pathways in the brain. Photobiomodualtion has been therapeutically effective to improve the recovery rate for other medical conditions, and has shown promise in the lab for people and animals with PD.
Strategic use of specific light applied at a targeted time of day for a specific length of time should be able to “attack” melatonin, and reduce it, thus restoring dopamine balance.5
My Personal Case History
We began by following the procedure that Dr Willis explained in his 2007 paper, using the light for one hour before bed, in order to attack melatonin at its peak, apart from using a more powerful light than in his study and so I reduced the lamps proximity accordingly. Dr Willis reports seeing major results in timescales of weeks in virtually all the people involved in his tests. Indeed, after sitting in front of the light for an hour each night, I too found my sleep had improved and my rigidity and pain decreased. However, if I wasnt compliant and missed a couple of doses at night, my symptoms would return.
Later, we discovered wearable light technology, which makes the application of the light therapy much more convenient and practical. Given the aim of Dr Willis strategy to reduce the melatonin-dopamine imbalance, which was indeed working for me, it seemed appropriate to choose the blue light glasses supplied by Propeaq. I have continued to use the strategy of one hour exposure before bed, but swapped the bright light box for the light glasses. I do feel this increased the benefits, and that for me, these benefits have been cumulative in the long term. See my full report on trialling the wearables for further information.
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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.
Cellular And Molecular Mechanisms Of Lllt
LLLT uses low-powered laser light in the range of 1-1000 mW, at wavelengths from 632-1064 nm, to stimulate a biological response. These lasers emit no heat, sound, or vibration. Instead of generating a thermal effect, LLLT acts by inducing a photochemical reaction in the cell, a process referred to as biostimulation or photobiomodulation. Photo-biology works on the principle that, when light hits certain molecules called chromophores, the photon energy causes electrons to be excited and jump from low-energy orbits to higher-energy orbits. In nature, this stored energy can be used by the system to perform various cellular tasks, such as photosynthesis and photomorphogenesis. Numerous examples of chromophores exist in nature, such as chlorophyll in plants, bacteriochlorophyll in blue-green algae, flavoproteins, and hemoglobin found in red blood cells. The respective colors of chromophores are determined by the part of the spectrum of light they absorb: chlorophyll is green, flavoprotein is yellow, and hemoglobin is red .
Illustration of mitochondrion, as well as of the electron transport chain and oxidative metabolism.
Complex IV is the principal chromophore involved in low-level light therapy. It has 2 copper centers and 2 heme prosthetic groups. Cytochrome c is oxidized and oxygen is reduced to water during respiration.
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Groundbreaking Trial/red Light Therapy For Parkinsons
reduces symptoms and improves GUT microbiome
A groundbreaking trial led by co-ordinator of photomolecular research at the Australasian Research Institute, Dr Ann Liebert, has found that infrared light therapy for Parkinsons disease appears to reduce symptoms and improve the gut microbiome.
This is the first known trial worldwide to demonstrate changes in the human gut microbiome following light therapy.
The studys findings, which will be published in The Journal of Photochemistry & Photobiology, B: Biology, offer a potential ray of hope for the approximately 80 000 Australians and 10 million people worldwide who are facing a long, slow decline from a progressive neurodegenerative disease. This number of Parkinsons sufferers is only expected to increase in the future with the worlds ageing population and, chillingly, the recently hypothesised link between contracting COVID-19 and an increased risk of Parkinsons disease.
In this video interview, Professor Hosen Kiat, cardiologist and professor of medicine at the University of New South Wales and professor of cardiology at Macquarie University, discusses the significance of the studys findings and its relevance for Parkinsons disease as well as for many other chronic health conditions including obesity, heart disease, autoimmune diseases and cancers.
The laser that was used in the trial can be found here:
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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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Everything You Need To Know About Red Light Therapy And Parkinsons Disease
Emerging research on red light therapy for Parkinsons 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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Explant Cultures And Bioluminescence Measurement
Coronal brain slices including the SCN were prepared from adult Per2Luc mice using a vibratome,. Paired SCNs were excised from coronal brain slices and placed on a culture membrane in a covered and sealed culture dish filled with medium containing 100M luciferin. Bioluminescence was measured in realtime with a photomultiplier tube . The data sets were detrended by subtracting the 24h running average from the raw data. To perform single neuron imaging, a luminescence microscope optimized for live cell imaging was used.
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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