Red light therapy may offer a new way to protect the brain from damage in people who face repeated head injuries, according to research from the University of Utah. Scientists studied football players to test if this therapy could help reduce brain inflammation, a problem that often leads to long-term health issues like memory loss and dementia.
The study focused on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a disease caused by repeated blows to the head and seen in both athletes and military personnel. Over 100 NFL players have been diagnosed with CTE after death, and similar problems affect soldiers, first responders, and veterans. Researchers wanted to see if shining red light on the brain might slow or stop these harmful changes.
For the experiment, 26 current football players participated. Half of them received red light therapy using a headset and a device clipped into the nose, while the other half used a device with no light, acting as a placebo. Treatments were given three times a week for 20 minutes each session, lasting 16 weeks.
MRI scans were used to measure brain inflammation before and after the football season. The scientists found that athletes who only used the placebo had increased brain inflammation by the end of the season. In contrast, those who used red light therapy did not show any rise in brain inflammation. Previous studies suggest that red light can reach the brain if it is powerful enough and may lower the molecules that cause inflammation.
Despite the promising findings, the researchers admit their study was small, so larger trials are needed to confirm these results. The research team plans to test red light therapy with a bigger group, including first responders, veterans, and active-duty service members, in the future. They hope this new approach will help make sports safer and offer protection for the brain.
