Intranasal Light Therapy Research

This systematic review analyzed 37 studies investigating photobiomodulation (PBM) effects on cognitive aging, spanning both preclinical animal models and clinical human trials. The review provides a comprehensive look at PBM's mechanisms and outcomes across the aging spectrum.

In healthy older adults, PBM improved working memory, cognitive inhibition, and lexical/semantic access. In patients with Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment, general cognition improved. At the cellular level, PBM demonstrated neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and hemodynamic effects, with evidence of restored mitochondrial function through improved enzyme activity and ATP production.

This systematic review analyzed 35 human studies from 1987 to 2022, evaluating whether transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM) can improve cognitive function across various populations. The majority of studies (82.9%) reported positive cognitive outcomes following tPBM treatment.

All nine studies examining patients with subjective memory complaints, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia reported positive results. Traumatic brain injury studies also showed a high success rate (87.5%). However, stroke trials showed initial positive trends but failed to reach statistical significance in phase III.

This study investigated whether pulsed near-infrared light delivered transcranially and intranasally could modulate neural oscillations in healthy adults, providing mechanistic evidence for cognitive effects.

This randomized controlled pilot trial from UCSF tested whether home-based photobiomodulation could improve cognitive and behavioral function in dementia patients. Eight participants (mean age ~80) were randomized to either 12 weeks of PBM treatment or usual care.

The PBM group used the Vielight Neuro Gamma device (transcranial + intranasal NIR) three times per week at home, administered by a study partner. After 12 weeks, the treatment group showed significant improvements on cognitive and behavioral measures, along with increased cerebral perfusion and enhanced default-mode network connectivity. The treatment was well tolerated with no adverse effects.

This pilot study examined whether photobiomodulation delivered through transcranial and intranasal routes could improve cognitive function in patients with mild to moderate dementia.