It almost goes without saying that keeping our bodies and brains healthy for as long as possible is a worthy endeavor and anything we can do to realize that goal is a worthwhile pursuit. That’s why I encourage everyone with a brain to protect (which would be all of us) to give it some extra TLC by adding red light therapy (RLT) – also known as low-level laser therapy (LLLT) or photobiomodulation therapy – to their mix of health-supporting practices.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about RLT and the extraordinary benefits it delivers from head to toe, things like tamping down inflammation, promoting antioxidant activity, stimulating energy production, rejuvenating skin, curbing pain, improving sleep, to name a few. But, to my mind, possibly the most exciting story of all is RLT's potential to help keep brains young and robust. So, what can RLT do to help your brain function better for longer? Here’s a window into a few of the brain-saving possibilities it has to offer:

RLT in a nutshell

First up, what is RLT? It’s a non-invasive treatment that involves exposing parts of the body – or the whole body – to light, namely low-power red light and/or near-infrared light. Pioneered in the late ‘60s by Hungarian physician Endre Mester to aid wound healing, it was later used by NASA to encourage plant growth, as a way to help feed astronauts on space missions. As the technology has become less costly and more widely accessible, more recently RLT has been studied for its potential benefit to brain health, both neurological and psychological. It’s these potentially brain-saving effects that have been fueling much of the excitement about this well-tolerated treatment.

As far as the actual, how-it-works goes, red light therapy utilizes devices equipped with LED bulbs to deliver a specific range of light directly onto exposed skin. This spectrum consists of wavelengths measured in nanometers (nm), including red (630 to 660 nm) and near-infrared (810 to 850 nm), with multiple studies showing these wavelengths to be the sweet spot for exerting a significant stimulating effect on the human body. Moreover, both red and especially near-infrared (NIR) light possess sufficient length to penetrate human tissue—and even reach bone—which enhances the potential of red light therapy to get where it needs to go – and makes it a particularly effective approach for supporting brain health.

Keep in mind though, too much of a good thing can cause problems, particularly with lower-powered red light products designed for home use, where over-doing your exposure, misusing or pushing beyond treatment guidelines can damage the skin, cause blisters, and even eye damage if used without proper eye protection.

Let there be light

Chances are, you may already be familiar with red light, in the form of LED panels, masks and caps used to encourage external improvements in skin and hair health, all from the comfort of home. Good for topical rejuvenation, but the RLT I’m talking about is the more sophisticated variety administered in professional settings, using specially-designed, high-tech red light beds to treat the whole body. These devices are less about the external and more about delivering internal benefits, including benefits for the brain. Topical at-home skin and hair devices go, no surprise, only skin-deep.

With the high-tech professional-grade red light beds, multiple wavelengths of red light and near-infrared light work in concert, penetrating the body more deeply, enabling them to be absorbed by the cells, promoting a variety of positive physiological responses. Another feather in the red light bed’s cap: recent research also suggests that full-body treatments are the most effective approach for treating the brain, so hop in! 

RLT gets busy in your brain, but in a good way

When it comes to your brain, the red light isn’t just zapping your brain and voila! you’re Einstein. The effects are subtler than that, occurring at the cellular and even sub-cellular level -- inside the mitochondria that keep your brain humming. Red light therapy is believed to increase activity inside these cell powerplants. The possible result: an increase in energy in the form of more adenosine triphosphate (ATP) molecules. More energy means better brain function, as well as overall tissue health. In other words, red light promotes health from the inside out, unlike medications that may do little more than mask symptoms.

RLT offers serious anti-aging gains for your head

So, our best current understanding is that professional grade RLT helps preserve and improve brain health and helps slow the aging processes in the brain. Among the benefits that RLT may offer our brains:‍

1. Better blood flow to the brain – which can potentially enhance oxygen and nutrient delivery to brain cells.

2. Better cognitive function – studies indicate that RLT-triggered increases in brain blood flow has a positive impact on cognitive function, memory, attention and can promote higher information processing speed.

3. Protection against neurological damage and decline – preliminary RLT research has shown promise when protecting brain tissue from brain-drainers like oxidative stress and inflammation, thereby potentially reducing the risk of, or mitigating the effects of, neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s among other brain disorders, as well as traumatic brain injuries.‍

4. Improved mood regulation -- thanks in part to RLTs ability to influence brain neurotransmitter levels like serotonin and dopamine, while also reducing inflammation in the brain. It may all add up to keeping mood on a more even keel, which is why RLT is currently being studied as a complementary treatment for depression and anxiety.

5. Improved Sleep Quality – which is essential for brain health. RLT is thought to be helpful for regulating circadian rhythms and improving sleep quality, contributing to overall cognitive function and mental well-being – and ultimately, a healthier brain.‍

6. Less inflammation – like good rest, reducing inflammation throughout the body is good for the brain, as chronic inflammation is linked to various neurological disorders. RLT’s anti-inflammatory properties support overall neurological health.

Embracing the light

In short, there’s a lot to like about RLT, at both the professional-grade and home-device levels – they may wind up being game-changers. Although it’s still early days for the brain research – much of the research has been done with animals or in smaller human trials -- the potential here is extraordinary. RLT may offer a new and non-invasive way to prevent, better manage and possibly even cure age-related decline, stroke damage, traumatic brain injuries and numerous neurological conditions. As the technology develops, as well our experience on how best to use it, my hope is that RLT will be able to change millions of brains (and lives) for the better.