Therapeutic potential of intranasal photobiomodulation therapy for neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders: a narrative review.

Journal: Reviews in the neurosciences

Volume: 31

Issue: 3

Year of Publication: 2021

Affiliated Institutions:  Neurosciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz , Iran. Centre for Research in Medical Devices (CÚRAM), National University of Ireland Galway, Galway H WTY, Ireland. Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Blossom Street, Boston, MA , USA. ProNeuroLIGHT LLC, W Buckhorn Trail, Phoenix, AZ , USA. Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA , USA.

Abstract summary 

The application of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) for neuronal stimulation is studied in different animal models and in humans, and has shown to improve cerebral metabolic activity and blood flow, and provide neuroprotection via anti-inflammatory and antioxidant pathways. Recently, intranasal PBMT (i-PBMT) has become an attractive and potential method for the treatment of brain conditions. Herein, we provide a summary of different intranasal light delivery approaches including a nostril-based portable method and implanted deep-nasal methods for the effective systemic or direct irradiation of the brain. Nostril-based i-PBMT devices are available, using either lasers or light emitting diodes (LEDs), and can be applied either alone or in combination to transcranial devices (the latter applied directly to the scalp) to treat a wide range of brain conditions such as mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cerebrovascular diseases, depression and anxiety as well as insomnia. Evidence shows that nostril-based i-PBMT improves blood rheology and cerebral blood flow, so that, without needing to puncture blood vessels, i-PBMT may have equivalent results to a peripheral intravenous laser irradiation procedure. Up to now, no studies were conducted to implant PBMT light sources deep within the nose in a clinical setting, but simulation studies suggest that deep-nasal PBMT via cribriform plate and sphenoid sinus might be an effective method to deliver light to the ventromedial part of the prefrontal and orbitofrontal cortex. Home-based i-PBMT, using inexpensive LED applicators, has potential as a novel approach for neurorehabilitation; comparative studies also testing sham, and transcranial PBMT are warranted.

Authors & Co-authors:  Salehpour Farzad F Gholipour-Khalili Sevda S Farajdokht Fereshteh F Kamari Farzin F Walski Tomasz T Hamblin Michael R MR DiDuro Joseph O JO Cassano Paolo P

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations :  Amar AP and Weiss MH (2003). Pituitary anatomy and physiology. Neurosurg. Clin 14, 11–23.
Authors :  8
Identifiers
Doi : 10.1515/revneuro-2019-0063
SSN : 2191-0200
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Cerebrovascular Circulation
Other Terms
Alzheimer’s disease (AD);blood irradiation;brain function;cribriform plate;depression;intranasal photobiomodulation;light emitting diodes (LEDs);nasal cavity;sphenoid sinus
Study Design
Narrative Study,Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Systemic Review
Country of Study
Publication Country
Germany