A Step In The Right Direction
on 2021-08-03
I have been using my coronet for two months now mainly twice a day and sometimes 3 times a day. The improvements are subtle but noticeable. Sleep is better and no more restless leg syndrome. Also I am getting my sense of smell back. I like the fact that it is not another pill I need to take and if it can moderate or delay the progression of secondary symptoms that are part of Parkinson’s disease it is well worth the investment
Stuart David Frame
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?
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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History Of Light Therapy
In 1903, the Nobel Prize in medicine was awarded to Danish Physician, Niels Ryberg Finsen, for his work in treating Smallpox and Tuberculosis with light. Further interest in the field was pioneered by Professor Endre Mester, a Hungarian physician and scientist, who in 1967 successfully used light to heal wounds and regrow hair in mice and people.NASA also experimented frequently with light in the 1970s and 1980s and successfully used LED light to grow flowers in space.Today, light is used to pre-prime patients prior to surgery as well as for several neurodegenerative disorders.
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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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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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An Overview Of Red Light Therapy
Red light therapy is often used as an umbrella term that encompasses both red light and near-infrared light. Other terms that are commonly used for this treatment method are photobiomodulation and low-level light therapy .
The major difference between red light and NIR light is the depth to which they can penetrate tissue and bone. Red light can absorb into the bodys tissues up to about 1-2cm . NIR light wavelengths absorb about 4cm .
Red light therapy has been shown in hundreds of clinical studies to have a wide variety of therapeutic effects on the human body. The treatment is administered to bare skin and t forehead via powerful light-emitting diode bulbs.
Light photons are absorbed into the skin and underlying tissue where they interact with mitochondria, the energy factories inside most cells. Mitochondria, in turn, are stimulated to produce adenosine triphosphate , which is the primary fuel for cells. This process is much like photosynthesis, whereby plants absorb energy from the sun to make glucose for their food.
Because of the difference in wavelengths, red light and NIR light are suitable for different types of therapies. Red light soaks into the skin where it stimulates collagen and elastin production, along with forming capillaries and reducing inflammation. Its shorter wavelengths can’t absorb deeper into the body, so its the ideal therapy for chronic skin conditions, hair loss, and for reversing the signs of aging.
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Light Therapy And Parkinsons Disease
Light therapy, or the use of light as a treatment for disease, is being investigated in many neurologic conditions including as a treatment for some of the symptoms of Parkinsons disease . Light therapy encompasses a large category of treatments involving different types of light and delivery systems. More research still needs to be done to figure out exactly what type of light therapy works for which symptoms of PD.
To better understand what we do and do not know about light therapy for PD, this week I will explore:
- What are the variables to consider when thinking about light therapy?
- Which symptoms of PD may experience relief with light therapy?
- Are there any currently available devices for light therapy to treat PD symptoms?
- What clinical trial data supports the use of light therapy in PD?
- Are there current light therapy clinical trials that are enrolling people with PD?
- Why might light therapy be helpful in PD?
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
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Lots Of Other Factors At Play: Expert
Professor Lewis added the placebo effect was very real.
The truth of the matter is there are lots of matters at play, yes people who are using these lights at home on their own are subject to an enormous placebo effect, theres no doubt about that, which is why more well-constructed trials are , he said.
There are other factors that can play on why patients might feel better, even in the period of the same day the way that the tablets work, the level of chemical in the brain, especially when the disease progresses, can fluctuate.
Ninety per cent of Parkinsons patients have poor sleep for lots of different reasons, and of course a bad nights sleep means a bad day the next day.
As well as Parkinsons disease, the trials will also look at the effect red light treatment is having on people with Alzheimers and cardiac disease.
Researchers will test blood, red bloods cells and measure gut microbiome to see what effect the lights are having.
Trials across each state are being conducted at different times.
The Queensland placebo trial has now concluded and results are being analysed. The South Australia and Sydney trails have recently started and results are expected to be known later this year.
Nir For Parkinsons Disease
Mainly due to the existence of effective toxin-based in vitro and in vivo models, there have been considerably more reports on the beneficial effects of NIr for Parkinsons disease .2). The first studies to report neuroprotection by NIr after parkinsonian insult demonstrated that NIr treatment reduced cell death, increased ATP content and decreased levels of oxidative stress in rat striatal and cortical cells exposed to the parkinsonian toxins rotenone and MPP+ in vitro . In cultures of human neuroblastoma cells engineered to overexpress -synuclein, NIr increased mitochondrial function and reduced oxidative stress after MPP+ exposure . Further, in hybrid cells bearing mitochondrial DNA from Parkinsons patients, mitochondrial movement along axons improved substantially after NIr treatment, with movement restored to near control levels .
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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.
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
For more Health & Wellbeing related news and videos check out Health & Wellbeing> >
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.
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An Overview Of Parkinsons Disease
Parkinsons disease is an incurable nervous system disorder. It is characterized by movement problems including uncontrolled tremors, impaired balance, muscle stiffness, and Bradykinesia that usually begins on one side of the body, eventually affects both sides of the body, and worsens over time.
It is often accompanied by depression, emotional changes, loss of facial expression, speech changes, muscle cramps, pain, fatigue, urinary/excretory problems, sleep problems, dementia and other cognitive declines, sexual dysfunction, difficulty chewing and swallowing, and orthostatic hypotension .
PD is caused by the abnormal death of brain cells , especially in the substantia nigra, which is the base of the brain which controls dopamine production. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps control motor functions such as walking. MS patients also have extremely low production of norepinephrine, which is responsible for the autonomous nervous system functioning including blood pressure.
Although the cause of neuronal death is not fully known, it could be due to environmental toxins such as pesticides, hereditary factors, and/or mitochondrial dysfunction. The mitochondria are the energy-producing centers of cells in the human body and it is believed that mitochondrial dysfunction may be the culprit in several neurodegenerative disorders, including PD.
Near Infrared Chronic Intracranial Illumination For Neuroprotection In Parkinson’s 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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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.
Light Therapy Does It Help People With Parkinsons Disease
Light therapy is considered good for brain health. It seems to improve the cognitive functions like memory and learning. New research suggests that it may also help to relieve some of the symptoms of Parkinsons disease.
Parkinsons disease is a brain condition that affects millions of people around the world. The disease appears due to the death of certain cells in the brain that release dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter responsible for body movement. The typical symptoms include tremor, rigidity, slowness of movement, and balance problem.
Unfortunately, Parkinsons disease is not curable and the drugs available today can only treat the symptoms. However, these drugs come with side effects that in some cases can further worsen the disease conditions. Therefore, researchers are trying to find other treatment approaches that could deal with symptoms without causing side effects. One such approach is the bright light therapy.
Bright light therapy is a newly introduced treatment option during which a patient is exposed to a strong but safe amount of light for a certain period of time.
The therapy was originally used to treat skin problems. Later on, it was found that it could also be useful in treating psychiatric conditions like depression and anxiety. And now researchers think that it might also benefit those suffering from Parkinsons disease. Its specially recommended for treating depression and sleep problems in Parkinsons patients.
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