Red Light Halts Brain Memory Tissue Damage

A 2019 study in Scientific Reports showed that 660 nm photobiomodulation reduces oxidative stress and induces BDNF expression in the hippocampus. Researchers found that low power LED red light can decrease stressors on the brain, and increase neural regeneration.

The researchers applied 660 nm red light using 20 mW/cm^2.

Red Light Therapy:

• is non-invasive
• painless
• decreases oxidative stress
• produces brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) which promotes neural cell survival
• increases hippocampal cell survival
• successfully treats degenerative brain diseases including Alzheimer’s
• successfully treats traumatic brain injuries

The study tested whether 660 nm red light could reduce oxidative stress and thereby prevent hippocampal damage.

This study was on mice. They treated mouse hippocampal cells with 100, 300 and 1,000 micrometers H2O2. They then treated the test group with 660 nm LED photobiomodulation. They tested all groups for oxidative stress.

This study tested whether RLT could prevent hippocampal oxidative stress by reducing oxidative stress.

The goal is to treat disorders that lead to nerve damage.

Photobiomodulation (PBM) decreases oxidation and increases brain derived neurotropic factor (BDNF).

Researchers induced mouse oxidative stress. They treated hippocampal cells with 100, 300, and 1,000 micrometers H2O2.

They treated the test group with 660 nm LED.

They tested all groups  for oxidative stress.

The low energy red light application created these results:

• inhibited hippocampus cell death by 1.3% to 15.7%
• reduced oxidation and oxidative stress
• increased ERK (extra-cellular signal related kinase) and CREB (cAMP response element binding protein) communication
• increased BDNF (brain derived neurotropic factor),which promotes neural regeneration