Low Level Light Therapy for Cognition

Yesterday I bought a low-level infrared LED light that directs the light up your nose and into your brain. I know right?? Thank goodness I have an amazing, supportive husband, who trusts my research and my decisions. It was just a couple days ago that I was saying to him that we should tighten up the bootstraps a bit for summer, but money spent on trying to heal our son doesn’t really count. This is the biggest purchase we have made to date, but over the last 5 years, we have tried many expensive supplements. None of which is covered by OHIP. We still  put expensive transdermal creams on him that we have sent from the United States – as well as some expensive specialty supplements. I absolutely know that this light may not work, but my research has led me to strongly believe that it will not hurt and it may help – and there is only one way to find out.

This is called Photobiomodulation. It was originally called Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), which was changed to Low Level Light Therapy (LLLT) – with the introduction of LED options on the market. There is research on the effectiveness of laser or light therapy that dates to the 70’s. Cytochrome c oxidase, which is an enzyme in the mitochondrial respiratory change; is an enzyme that we want working. (Remember from Science class that every cell has a mitochondrion. They are the powerhouses of the cell). The presence of nitrous oxide will inhibit the action of this enzyme (not good). Nitrous oxide can be broken down by photons of light. “The removal of the nitrous oxide allows more oxygen to be consumed, more glucose to be metabolized and more ATP to be produced by the mitochondria. ATP is needed for literally everything, including healing.” [Hamblin. Shining the Light on Photobiomodulation for brain disorders]

But there is more to the story than this because light therapy also has long lasting effects that can not be explained by the increased ATP alone. The long-lasting effects “can only be explained by activation of signaling pathways and transcription factors – that cause changes in protein expression”. Changes in protein expression can lead to more permanent changes. Light therapy has been shown to improve cognition. [Hamblin]

We could have chosen to go to a clinic in Toronto, rather than purchase an at-home device.  A friend of mine brings her son there, and they rent the machine for $450/month. It costs $12 000 to buy. This is a monochromatic laser -this means that all light produced by the laser is a single specific wavelength. Most of the existing studies use these monochromatic lasers as opposed to the newer and cheaper (like the one I bought) LED lights. LED lights emit light at wider band spread. The jury is still out on whether LED is as effective as laser therapy, but there are studies to indicate they are also an effective treatment option. [Naeser. Improved cognitive function after transcranial, light-emitting diode treatments in chronic traumatic brain injury].

                        How many of us feel the pull of unproven theories and treatments? I just watched a video from an episode of Superhuman called Hunting Down His Son’s Killer. This father uses his computer skills to figure out the cause of his son’s seizures, what drug to repurpose and he connects with other around the world with the same condition. Wow – the power of love is tremendous. He said something in the video that I relate to “Science itself becomes the medicine that you take, when there is no medicine that you can”

We may feel foolish for even trying, but what else do we have? We need the hope that these new treatment possibilities give us. Knowing that there will be another treatment to try if this one fails, is what gets me through the day. #nevergivingup. We all worried that we are getting sold snake oil, but what is considered snake oil one day may be considered a legitimate treatment the next. There are many failures out there, but innovative thinking continues. The motivating factor is mainly money. Yes, those innovative thinkers want to do a good thing, and cure cancer or treat Epilepsy, but they also want to make a living doing so. Some of the nay-saying and skepticism will come directly from the pharmaceutical industry and their affiliates. They are heavily invested in protecting the status quo.

My philosophy has always been ‘First Do No Harm’ – the Hippocratic oath. It is this philosophy that compelled me to try the Ketogenic Diet, under supervision of his neurologist, before trying medication (More on that later). And it is that same philosophy that allows me to feel comfortable about trying Low Level Light Therapy.