The study conducted by Daniel M. Johnstone and colleagues, published in 2015, explores the potential of near-infrared (NIR) light therapy as a neuroprotective treatment for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. The research suggests that red to infrared light, particularly in the near-infrared range (600-1070 nm), can arrest the progression of neuronal death, which is characteristic of these disorders. NIR therapy has previously shown promise in treating various forms of tissue stress, including hypoxia, toxic injury, genetic mutations, and mitochondrial dysfunction. The authors propose that NIR light could be a disease-modifying therapy, helping to stabilize or slow down the neurodegeneration seen in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s patients.
The study emphasizes the potential for NIR light therapy to provide a non-invasive, safe, and effective method of slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. This research builds on previous studies where NIR light has been successfully used to mitigate the damaging effects of cellular stress in the brain. Although this therapy is still under investigation, the findings suggest that it may offer a new avenue for neuroprotective treatments, complementing existing therapies that focus primarily on symptom management rather than halting disease progression. The proposal to use infrared light therapy, including in the form of infrared saunas, represents a novel approach that could significantly impact the management of neurodegenerative diseases.
