A recent study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders highlights the potential benefits of using photobiomodulation to treat neurological disorders. Led by Professor Albert Giralt from the University of Barcelona, the study explores how applying low-intensity light to the brain-gut axis can help reverse cognitive impairments caused by chronic stress. This innovative approach opens up new possibilities for using photobiomodulation in future therapies for patients with neurological diseases.
The study, conducted on laboratory animal models, involves teams from various institutions including the University of Girona and the University of Montpellier. By using photobiomodulation to simultaneously stimulate the brain and gut, the researchers aim to target the gut-brain axis, an area of research that shows promise in treating nervous system disorders. This new therapeutic approach focuses on co-stimulating the brain and gut to address psychiatric and neurological conditions in a non-invasive and well-tolerated manner.
The devices used for photobiomodulation have been developed by a French company called REGEnLIFE and have been adapted for clinical application in patients. By incorporating multiple stimulation sources and a magnetic ring to prevent tissue overheating, these devices offer a safe and effective way to deliver low-intensity light therapy. The study’s findings suggest that targeting both the brain and gut with photobiomodulation can have beneficial effects on cognitive function and may be particularly useful for patients with treatment-resistant depression.
One of the key findings of the study is that psychiatric disorders are not solely rooted in the brain, but involve other tissues and organs as well. By considering the role of the gut-brain axis in the pathophysiology of these disorders, researchers hope to develop more effective treatments in the future. The molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of photobiomodulation on cognitive function have been explored, revealing changes in the SIRT1 pathway, intestinal microbiota, and neuroinflammatory processes.
Further research is needed to establish the efficacy of combined photobiomodulation in patients with depression, especially in cases of treatment-resistant depression. The team plans to design clinical trials to test the effectiveness of this approach and explore its relationship with neuroinflammation. By addressing both the brain and gut in the treatment of psychiatric disorders, photobiomodulation shows promise as a potential adjunctive therapy to be used alongside traditional pharmacological treatments.
