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You may have heard about the energizing powers of red light therapy for wound healing, decreasing pain, promoting fat loss, and improving skin issues. But did you know that red light therapy also has the potential to enhance your neurological function?
Red light has been scientifically proven to promote healing and regeneration in our cells, so it makes sense that those same benefits would apply to brain cells as well. Explore how you can take an active role in improving your cognitive health by diving into our primer on red light therapy for brain health.
What is Red Light Therapy?
Red light therapy is a non-invasive treatment that involves shining targeted red and near-infrared light on the body in order to stimulate the cells. It’s most commonly known for its ability to relieve pain and rejuvenate your skin. Red light therapy for neurological conditions, also known as photobiomodulation therapy, takes the same principles of red light therapy for the muscles and skin and applies them to the brain.&1
By invigorating your brain cells with red light wavelengths, red light devices can promote healing and regeneration within the brain itself. As a result, it can provide tangible benefits for people suffering from brain injuries or cognitive issues.
Can Your Brain Really Absorb Red Light?
It may surprise you that red light devices can actually penetrate through your skull and into your brain tissue when used directly on your head or nose.1
Red light wavelengths can reach up to two inches beneath the skin, allowing them to directly connect with the brain. Your brain can also indirectly benefit from full-body red light therapy, as the general increase in circulation from red light can improve blood flow to the brain.
How Does Red Light Therapy Benefit the Brain?
When red light hits the mitochondria in your brain cells, it promotes cellular respiration. This process helps your cells—especially damaged or compromised cells—produce a chemical called adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which has a direct impact on their ability to heal and regenerate.2
In the brain, this can mean sharper thinking, enhanced executive function, and even improved memory, which combats cognitive decline. Using red light therapy for mental health has also been proven successful.
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Can Red Light Therapy Help Treat Neurological Conditions?
Scientists are still exploring the full extent of how red light can improve brain function, in both people with healthy brains and serious neurological conditions:
- Alzheimer's: Emerging studies have shown that red light therapy helped improve cognitive function for patients with Alzheimer’s disease, making it easier for them to conduct day-to-day tasks.3
- Parkinson’s: Some people with Parkinson’s disease are seeing better motor function after getting red light therapy work done, including a reduction in tremors, improved facial expressions, and an easier time walking.4
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): By increasing cellular regeneration in the brain, red light therapy can speed up the healing process for brain injuries.2
- Depression: Light therapy has long been known to help combat seasonal depression, but it may also have an antidepressant effect for people with major depression and other mental health challenges.5
- Overall cognitive function: You don’t need to have cognitive deficits to benefit from red light therapy. Photobiomodulation can help you maintain brain function and mental clarity if you’re at risk for a neurological condition or simply want to focus on your brain health.
If you or a loved one is dealing with a neurological condition, you may find respite experimenting with red light therapy. It doesn’t have any documented negative interactions with other neurological treatments, so most people can safely try out red light devices in conjunction with other therapies.4
Does Red Light Therapy Help with Brain Fog?
If you’ve ever dealt with periods of forgetfulness, trouble concentrating, and minor confusion, you may have suffered from a bout of brain fog. Even healthy individuals can deal with brain fog from time to time, but it can have a significant impact on your quality of life.
Luckily, red light therapy has the potential to improve cognitive processing, reaction time, and memory in people dealing with brain fog.6
How to Use Red Light Therapy for Brain Health
One of the best parts of red light therapy is how accessible it is for the average person. Anyone can enhance their own cognitive health with a convenient at-home red light therapy device.
Start by looking for a red light helmet, mask, glasses, or belt that you can use to specifically target your brain with transcranial therapy. Does red light therapy work through clothes or is direct skin exposure required? Generally, the therapy is most effective when done for 10 to 20-minute increments multiple times a week, but be sure to follow the instructions on your specific device as well as recommendations from your doctor. Make sure your hair and skin is clean before each session, then sit back and enjoy the potential brain-boosting benefits.
Explore Red Light Therapy Devices from Lifepro
Whether you’re suffering from cognitive challenges or want to be proactive about protecting your brain health as you age, red light therapy empowers you to invest in your neurological well-being. By picking up a home red light device from Lifepro, you can support your long-term cognitive function in a way that fits in with your day-to-day schedule.
Sources:
- Occupational Therapy Brisbane. RED LIGHT THERAPY FOR NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS EXPLAINED. https://occupationaltherapybrisbane.com.au/red-light-therapy-for-neurological-conditions-explained/
- National Library of Medicine. Significant Improvements in Cognitive Performance Post-Transcranial, Red/Near-Infrared Light-Emitting Diode Treatments in Chronic, Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Open-Protocol Study. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4043367/
- National Library of Medicine. A Pilot Study of Near-Infrared Light Treatment for Alzheimer's Disease. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36373323/
- Parkinson’s News Today. Gains seen in Parkinson’s with Symbyx’s red light therapy helmet. https://parkinsonsnewstoday.com/news/gains-seen-parkinsons-with-symbyxs-red-light-therapy-helmet/
- Harvard Health Publishing. Light therapy: Not just for seasonal depression? https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/light-therapy-not-just-for-seasonal-depression-202210282840
- Wiley Online Library. Use of either transcranial or whole-body photobiomodulation treatments improves COVID-19 brain fog. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jbio.202200391
Author
Joel Gottehrer is the Co-Founder of Lifepro Fitness and has dedicated his life to helping people transform theirs. With over 12 years of experience in the fitness industry as a personal trainer and owner of two personal training studios, Joel has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to helping transform lives. After suffering from physical injuries, Joel and his business partner, Abraham Brach, came together with a common goal to alleviate the pain caused by their injuries.
They continued to find themselves disappointed with the results stemming from various products promising to relieve their pain, and with that – Lifepro Fitness was born. Joel's mission is to have a positive impact on millions of lives with the Lifepro brand. Whether it's finding new and innovative ways to help people recover from injuries or developing products to improve overall wellness, Joel is always looking for ways to push the boundaries. Thanks to his commitment to help people live their lives free of pain, Lifepro has been able to do this for thousands of people since its founding in 2017.