Utilizing Red Light Therapy as a Treatment for Parkinson's Disease
🤔Hey! Let's dive into the buzz surrounding an intriguing approach to managing Parkinson's symptoms - Red Light Therapy, or as scientists call it, Photobiomodulation (PBM)!
💡This interest among the Parkinson's community is pervasive, with numerous callers to our InfoLine querying about its potential effects. The real deal here? PBM.
🔬Now, it's important to note that Parkinson's NSW supports only evidence-based research and therapies backed by solid scientific evidence. And here's the kicker - so far, no large-scale studies or peer-reviewed scientific research have substantiated the safety and effectiveness of PBM for treating Parkinson's symptoms.
🌱However, smaller-scale studies are underway, and if the preliminary results justify it, they'll scale up. One such company, SYMBYX, has already completed its first human trial of laser light therapy for reducing Parkinson's symptoms by targeting the gut-brain axis.
📈The trial's proof-of-concept results indicated significant improvements in participants' mobility, cognition, dynamic balance, sleep, motivation, and fine motor skills. These results were confirmed in a follow-up trial in Sydney, soon to be published in the Journal of Photomodulation, Photomedicine and Laser Surgery.
🌟Two large-scale trials using SYMBYX lasers are currently underway in Sydney and Canada, with results expected in the first half of 2022.
💡SYMBYX's proprietary technology, known as super-pulsing laser technology, delivers optimal light therapy doses without generating heat. These lasers are non-invasive, painless to use, and portable, making them an attractive choice for many.
🔬According to SYMBYX CEO Dr. Wayne Markman, PBM can energize cell mitochondria and help combat the loss of cellular energy common in Parkinson's.** He explained that our colon, surprisingly, has the ability to produce both dopamine and serotonin, the crucial neurotransmitters required for healthy brain function. PBM to the gut reduces inflammation and promotes the metabolism of short-chain fatty acids, thereby influencing the production of more dopamine and serotonin.
🔬In a study in Adelaide, 12 participants diagnosed with Parkinson's by a neurologist were randomly divided into two groups. Six began 12 weeks of transcranial, neck, and abdominal PBM in a clinical setting before continuing with the treatment at home for another 40 weeks. The remaining six were waitlisted for 14 weeks before commencing the same treatment.
💪All participants showed improvement in the clinical signs of Parkinson's, including functional mobility, fine motor skills, and cognition. These improvements were sustained for up to a year in a neurodegenerative disease where decline is often expected.
💡This appears to be the first clinical trial using PBM to target the gut-brain axis. However, there are several smaller trials and case studies underway, exploring transcranial PBM for Parkinson's.
🔑In conclusion, while the field of PBM for Parkinson's is still in its infancy, the early results are quite promising. Larger-scale, more extensive studies are needed to confirm its efficacy and safety as a consistent therapeutic option for Parkinson's patients. Keep your eyes peeled for the upcoming results from the ongoing trials! 🚀
Sources:- SYMBYX (Improvements in clinical signs of Parkinson's disease using photobiomodulation: a prospective proof-of-concept study)- Gut health to affect changes in Parkinson's disease- Other scientific articles on photobiomodulation (PBM) for Parkinson's (link, link, link)
💡Want to know more about how diet, constipation, and medications can affect your Parkinson's drug absorption, or the role of a novel drug molecule in reactivating housekeeping functions in young Parkinson's patients? We got you covered! 🤓
The intriguing approach to managing Parkinson's symptoms, Red Light Therapy or Photobiomodulation (PBM), is generating significant interest within the medical-conditions community, particularly Parkinson's patients. However, despite smaller-scale studies showing potential benefits such as improved mobility, cognition, and dynamic balance in participants, no large-scale, peer-reviewed scientific research has substantiated the safety and effectiveness of PBM for treating Parkinson's symptoms. As more research focusing on PBM and neurological-disorders like Parkinson's unfolds, health-and-wellness enthusiasts are awaiting the outcomes of ongoing larger-scale trials to determine the role of therapies-and-treatments like PBM in the management of Parkinson's.
