Scientists from the University of Birmingham have developed a new light therapy technique that could help speed up recovery after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).
Their research, published in Bioengineering & Translational Medicine, shows that this innovative method may offer a new treatment option in a field where very few effective solutions exist.
Mild traumatic brain injury, often caused by events like falls or sports injuries, can lead to long-term complications. The initial injury is only part of the problem.
The real damage often comes from inflammation in the brain that occurs shortly after the injury. These secondary processes, which can take place minutes or even hours after the injury, worsen the damage and can make recovery much harder for patients.
The Birmingham team, led by Professor Zubair Ahmed and colleagues, has found a way to reduce this secondary damage. Their new technique uses light therapy, delivered through the skull, to protect the brain from further harm and to speed up the healing process.
This approach involves using near-infrared light, which is known to penetrate tissues and has been used in other areas of medicine to promote healing.
In the study, the scientists focused on two specific wavelengths of infrared light: 660nm and 810nm. They tested this therapy on animal models with brain injuries, using short, two-minute bursts of light delivered by a laser for three days after the injury. The results were promising.
The therapy significantly reduced the activity of certain brain cells -- astrocytes and microglial cells -- that are involved in the brain's inflammatory response after trauma. It also decreased the levels of chemicals associated with cell death, which are typically seen after a brain injury.
Beyond these biological markers, the researchers observed improvements in the animals' recovery. After four weeks, those treated with the light therapy performed better in tests that measured balance and cognitive function.
Among the two wavelengths tested, the 810nm light showed the best results, speeding up recovery more effectively than the 660nm light.
This study builds on previous research by the same team, which earlier this year showed that infrared light therapy could improve outcomes in spinal cord injuries. That study demonstrated that the light helped nerve cells survive and even encouraged the growth of new ones.
Professor Ahmed, who led the research, hopes to turn this promising technique into a practical treatment. The goal is to develop a medical device that can be used in hospitals to help people recover from both brain and spinal cord injuries.
By reducing inflammation and promoting faster healing, this device could significantly improve the quality of life for patients with traumatic injuries.
The team is now looking for commercial partners to help develop and market the device, potentially bringing this new therapy to patients in the near future.
If successful, light therapy could offer a simple, non-invasive treatment that could make a big difference for people recovering from brain injuries.
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