Red light therapy is a new and exciting tool that can people are using to boost brain health and overall well-being. Red light therapy is a more recently-developed form of therapy and is used to stimulate energy within cells. People are using red light therapy to promote sleep, manage pain, improve muscle recovery, and promote their health in many other ways.
One emerging application of red light therapy is using it to promote brain health. There are several studies supporting that this NASA-funded [1] technology can effectively improve brain health and well-being. Most research in this area has focused on using red light therapy to help heal or slow difficult-to-treat neurological diseases. The successes that researchers are seeing, however, suggest it may help augment brain performance in healthy people. Research into this application of red light therapy is ongoing, with many people beginning to use red light therapy to support their brain health.
Understanding Red Light Therapy
Red light therapy, also sometimes called photobiomodulation or low-level laser therapy, involves exposing the body tissues to red or infrared light. These specific wavelengths of light are thought to be absorbed by mitochondria [14], the tiny organs within cells that are responsible for energy production. Stimulation of mitochondria increases energy production, allowing cells to suppress inflammation, replicate more quickly, and produce more energy.
It has long been understood that light is absorbed by the body, causing diverse physical effects. From the cells of the retina of the eye that allow for sight to skin cells that absorb ultraviolet light to make vitamin D and melanin (a protein that pigments the skin), light is known to affect the body.
The effects of red light, however, have only been discovered more recently. Red light has some significant differences from ultraviolet light, another biologically active form of light. Ultraviolet light causes many effects on the body but can be dangerous. It has a short wavelength and is high energy. Red light, on the other hand, has a long wavelength and low energy. While high-energy ultraviolet light can increase risks like skin cancer, red light is considered much safer
People use red light therapy for a variety of reasons. It has been shown to help promote sleep, improve wound healing, potentially stimulate weight loss, improve athletic performance, and improve skin quality [15]. One new and significant application for red light therapy is improving brain health.
Red Light Therapy and Brain Health
Emerging research suggests that red light therapy could have neuroprotective effects, potentially benefiting individuals with neurological disorders. By improving mitochondrial function, red light therapy may enhance neuron vitality, promoting neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity. There are several studies supporting the effectiveness of using red light therapy to support brain health.
Early Cognitive Research
One of the earliest studies [16] on the use of red light therapy for cognitive applications emerged with a study published in Stroke, a highly reputable journal maintained by the American Heart Association. This study was published in 2007 and included 120 patients. The research found that infrared light was safe and effective for treating ischemic strokes when initiated within 24 hours of the stroke occurring. The authors concluded that a larger confirmatory trial was warranted but pointed out the potential promise this therapy offers.
Another early study [17] was published in 2014, examining the effects of red light therapy on optic nerve injury, retinal degeneration, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury. The study found that therapy was beneficial for helping repair damaged optic nerves and protecting neurons. The study also showed that red light therapy did not help improve retinal degeneration. The key result from this study was the demonstration that red light therapy could help protect nerves and enhance their ability to repair damage they experienced.
In 2016, a review [18] published in the prestigious Frontiers in Neuroscience recognized the potential cognitive applications of red light therapy but also pointed out that this use was “in its infancy” and still in the “proof of concept” stage. Nonetheless, the researchers advanced a view that red light therapy had powerful potential for potentially slowing the progression of neurological diseases by protecting neurons from death. They concluded by promoting continued research into the potential benefits.
