Title:Transcranial Near-infrared Laser Therapy in Improving Cognitive Recovery of Function Following Traumatic Brain Injury
Volume: 16
Issue: 9
Author(s): Xiyang Yao, Chenglin Liu, Dongxia Feng, Jun Yin*Gang Chen
Affiliation:
- Department of Neurosurgery, Taixing Chinese Medicine Hospital, Taixing 225400,China
Keywords:
Transcranial near-infrared laser, cognitive impairment, traumatic brain injury, biological mechanisms, animal experiments,
clinical trials.
Abstract: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has turned into a major health and socioeconomic problem
affecting young people and military personnel. Numerous TBI patients experienced the sequela of
brain injury called cognitive impairment, which reduced functions in attention, working memory,
motivation, and execution. In recent years, transcranial near-infrared laser therapy (tNiRLT) as a
possible therapy has been gradually applied in treating cognitive impairment post-TBI. In the present
review, the biological mechanisms of transcranial tNiRLT for TBI are synthesized mainly
based on the photonic impact of chronic mild TBI. Various exciting molecular events possibly occur
during the procedure, such as stimulation of ATP production, regional cerebral blood flow,
acupoint, neurogenesis and synaptogenesis, as well as a reduction in anti-inflammatory effect. Some
animal experiments and clinical studies of tNiRLT for TBI are outlined. Several labs have displayed
that tNiRLT is effective not only in improving neurological functions but also in increasing memory
and learning capacity in rodent animals’ model of TBI. In a 2 patients case report and a 11-case
series, cognitive functions were ameliorated. Efficacy on cognitive and emotional effects was also
observed in a double-blind, controlled clinical study. Several Randomized, parallel, double blind,
sham-controlled trials are underway, aiming to evaluate the efficacy of tLED on cognitive functions
and neuropsychiatric status in participants post-TBI. Therefore, tNiRLT is a promising method
applied to cognitive impairment following TBI.
