Improved Cognitive Function After Transcranial, Light-Emitting Diode Treatments in Chronic, Traumatic Brain Injury: Two Case Reports
Objective: Two chronic, traumatic brain injury (TBI) cases, where cognition improved following treatment with red and near-infrared light-emitting diodes (LEDs), applied transcranially to forehead and scalp areas, are presented. Background: Significant benefits have been reported following applicati...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | en_US |
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Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
2011
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/66560 |
| _version_ | 1811098439809761280 |
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| author | Naeser, Margaret A. Saltmarche, Anita Krengel, Maxine H. Hamblin, Michael R. Knight, Jeffrey A. |
| author2 | Harvard University--MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology |
| author_facet | Harvard University--MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology Naeser, Margaret A. Saltmarche, Anita Krengel, Maxine H. Hamblin, Michael R. Knight, Jeffrey A. |
| author_sort | Naeser, Margaret A. |
| collection | MIT |
| description | Objective: Two chronic, traumatic brain injury (TBI) cases, where cognition improved following treatment with red and near-infrared light-emitting diodes (LEDs), applied transcranially to forehead and scalp areas, are presented. Background: Significant benefits have been reported following application of transcranial, low-level laser therapy (LLLT) to humans with acute stroke and mice with acute TBI. These are the first case reports documenting improved cognitive function in chronic, TBI patients treated with transcranial LED. Methods: Treatments were applied bilaterally and to midline sagittal areas using LED cluster heads [2.1″ diameter, 61 diodes (9 × 633 nm, 52 × 870 nm); 12–15 mW per diode; total power: 500 mW; 22.2 mW/cm2; 13.3 J/cm2 at scalp (estimated 0.4 J/cm2 to cortex)]. Results: Seven years after closed-head TBI from a motor vehicle accident, Patient 1 began transcranial LED treatments. Pre-LED, her ability for sustained attention (computer work) lasted 20 min. After eight weekly LED treatments, her sustained attention time increased to 3 h. The patient performs nightly home treatments (5 years); if she stops treating for more than 2 weeks, she regresses. Patient 2 had a history of closed-head trauma (sports/military, and recent fall), and magnetic resonance imaging showed frontoparietal atrophy. Pre-LED, she was on medical disability for 5 months. After 4 months of nightly LED treatments at home, medical disability discontinued; she returned to working full-time as an executive consultant with an international technology consulting firm. Neuropsychological testing after 9 months of transcranial LED indicated significant improvement (+1, +2SD) in executive function (inhibition, inhibition accuracy) and memory, as well as reduction in post-traumatic stress disorder. If she stops treating for more than 1 week, she regresses. At the time of this report, both patients are continuing treatment. Conclusions: Transcranial LED may improve cognition, reduce costs in TBI treatment, and be applied at home. Controlled studies are warranted. |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-23T17:14:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | mit-1721.1/66560 |
| institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| language | en_US |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-23T17:14:54Z |
| publishDate | 2011 |
| publisher | Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | mit-1721.1/665602022-09-30T00:41:55Z Improved Cognitive Function After Transcranial, Light-Emitting Diode Treatments in Chronic, Traumatic Brain Injury: Two Case Reports Naeser, Margaret A. Saltmarche, Anita Krengel, Maxine H. Hamblin, Michael R. Knight, Jeffrey A. Harvard University--MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology Hamblin, Michael R. Hamblin, Michael R. Objective: Two chronic, traumatic brain injury (TBI) cases, where cognition improved following treatment with red and near-infrared light-emitting diodes (LEDs), applied transcranially to forehead and scalp areas, are presented. Background: Significant benefits have been reported following application of transcranial, low-level laser therapy (LLLT) to humans with acute stroke and mice with acute TBI. These are the first case reports documenting improved cognitive function in chronic, TBI patients treated with transcranial LED. Methods: Treatments were applied bilaterally and to midline sagittal areas using LED cluster heads [2.1″ diameter, 61 diodes (9 × 633 nm, 52 × 870 nm); 12–15 mW per diode; total power: 500 mW; 22.2 mW/cm2; 13.3 J/cm2 at scalp (estimated 0.4 J/cm2 to cortex)]. Results: Seven years after closed-head TBI from a motor vehicle accident, Patient 1 began transcranial LED treatments. Pre-LED, her ability for sustained attention (computer work) lasted 20 min. After eight weekly LED treatments, her sustained attention time increased to 3 h. The patient performs nightly home treatments (5 years); if she stops treating for more than 2 weeks, she regresses. Patient 2 had a history of closed-head trauma (sports/military, and recent fall), and magnetic resonance imaging showed frontoparietal atrophy. Pre-LED, she was on medical disability for 5 months. After 4 months of nightly LED treatments at home, medical disability discontinued; she returned to working full-time as an executive consultant with an international technology consulting firm. Neuropsychological testing after 9 months of transcranial LED indicated significant improvement (+1, +2SD) in executive function (inhibition, inhibition accuracy) and memory, as well as reduction in post-traumatic stress disorder. If she stops treating for more than 1 week, she regresses. At the time of this report, both patients are continuing treatment. Conclusions: Transcranial LED may improve cognition, reduce costs in TBI treatment, and be applied at home. Controlled studies are warranted. National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (NIH grant RO1AI050875) United States. Dept. of Veterans Affairs (Merit Review Funding) United States. Air Force (MFEL program contract FA9550-04-1-0079) Center for Integration of Medicine and Innovative Technology (DAMD17-02-2-0006) United States. Dept. of Defense. Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (W81XWH- 09-1-0514) 2011-10-24T20:05:15Z 2011-10-24T20:05:15Z 2011-05 Article http://purl.org/eprint/type/JournalArticle 1549-5418 1557-8550 http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/66560 Naeser, Margaret A. et al. “Improved Cognitive Function After Transcranial, Light-Emitting Diode Treatments in Chronic, Traumatic Brain Injury: Two Case Reports.” Photomedicine and Laser Surgery 29 (2011): 351-358. ©2011 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. en_US http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/pho.2010.2814 Photomedicine and Laser Surgery Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use. application/pdf Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Mary Ann Liebert |
| spellingShingle | Naeser, Margaret A. Saltmarche, Anita Krengel, Maxine H. Hamblin, Michael R. Knight, Jeffrey A. Improved Cognitive Function After Transcranial, Light-Emitting Diode Treatments in Chronic, Traumatic Brain Injury: Two Case Reports |
| title | Improved Cognitive Function After Transcranial, Light-Emitting Diode Treatments in Chronic, Traumatic Brain Injury: Two Case Reports |
| title_full | Improved Cognitive Function After Transcranial, Light-Emitting Diode Treatments in Chronic, Traumatic Brain Injury: Two Case Reports |
| title_fullStr | Improved Cognitive Function After Transcranial, Light-Emitting Diode Treatments in Chronic, Traumatic Brain Injury: Two Case Reports |
| title_full_unstemmed | Improved Cognitive Function After Transcranial, Light-Emitting Diode Treatments in Chronic, Traumatic Brain Injury: Two Case Reports |
| title_short | Improved Cognitive Function After Transcranial, Light-Emitting Diode Treatments in Chronic, Traumatic Brain Injury: Two Case Reports |
| title_sort | improved cognitive function after transcranial light emitting diode treatments in chronic traumatic brain injury two case reports |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/66560 |
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