Photobiomodulation improves the frontal cognitive function of older adults
Chan AS, Lee TL, Yeung MK, Hamblin MR
International journal of geriatric psychiatry · 77 citations
How it was studied
- Design
- Randomized controlled trial (indexed by PubMed)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Independent funding
- Government
- National Institutes of Health
- Government
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
- Government
- NIAID NIH HHS
- Grants
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (R01 AI050875); National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (R21 AI121700); National Institutes of Health (R01AI050875); National Institutes of Health (R21AI121700)
Based on 3 listed funder(s).
Publication
- Published
- 2018-11-26 · Int J Geriatr Psychiatry · vol. 34 · issue 2 · pp. 369–377
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Cited
- 109 citations · more than 96% of similar papers · 4.7× the field average
- Impact
- Top 10% most cited in its field
- References
- 81 works
- Access
- Open access (repository copy)
- Research areas
- Laser Applications in Dentistry and Medicine · Photoreceptor and optogenetics research · Dental Health and Care Utilization
- Keywords
- Cognition, Gerontology, Psychology, Medicine, Physical medicine and rehabilitation, Neuroscience
- MeSH
- frontal lobe, humans, cognition, attention, aged, female, male, executive function, low-level light therapy
4 authors
From HK, US
- Agnes Sui-Yin Chan · correspondingChinese University of Hong Kong
- Tsz‐lok LeeChinese University of Hong Kong
- Michael K. YeungChinese University of Hong Kong
- Michael R. HamblinHarvard University; Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard–MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology
Abstract
Objectives
The frontal lobe hypothesis of age-related cognitive decline suggests that the deterioration of the prefrontal cortical regions that occurs with aging leads to executive function deficits. Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a newly developed, noninvasive technique for enhancing brain function, which has shown promising effects on cognitive function in both animals and humans. This randomized, sham-controlled study sought to examine the effects of PBM on the frontal brain function of older adults.
Methods/designs
Thirty older adults without a neuropsychiatric history performed cognitive tests of frontal function (ie, the Eriksen flanker and category fluency tests) before and after a single 7.5-minute session of real or sham PBM. The PBM device consisted of three separate light-emitting diode cluster heads (633 and 870 nm), which were applied to both sides of the forehead and posterior midline, and delivered a total energy of 1349 J.
Results
Significant group (experimental, control) × time (pre-PBM, post-PBM) interactions were found for the flanker and category fluency test scores. Specifically, only the older adults who received real PBM exhibited significant improvements in their action selection, inhibition ability, and mental flexibility after vs before PBM.
Conclusions
Our findings support that PBM may enhance the frontal brain functions of older adults in a safe and cost-effective manner.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher.
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