New findings suggest that an innovative approach may lead to a fresh treatment option in a medical field that has limited options available.
Researchers in Birmingham have discovered that delivering light therapy through the skull can help repair tissue following mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI).
Their study, published today in Bioengineering & Translational Medicine, shows promise for developing a new treatment where few currently exist.
mTBI occurs when initial damage from a head injury is exacerbated by a complicated series of inflammatory reactions in the brain. These secondary processes, which can unfold from minutes to hours after the injury, often lead to worse outcomes for patients.
The technique created by scientists from the University of Birmingham, U.K., and patented through University of Birmingham Enterprise, is designed to mitigate this secondary harm and promote quicker, more effective recovery for patients.
In their study, the Birmingham team, which included Professor Zubair Ahmed, Professor Will Palin, Dr Mohammed Hadis, and surgeons Mr Andrew Stevens and Mr David Davies, investigated how two different wavelengths of near-infrared light (660nm and 810nm) influenced recovery after an injury.
Animal models were used, receiving two-minute daily sessions of infrared light from a laser for three days following the injury.
The results indicated a marked decrease in the activation of astrocytes and microglial cells, which play key roles in the inflammatory responses that occur post-impact, and also showed significant reductions in biochemical indicators of cell death (apoptosis).
At the four-week mark, the subjects showed considerable advancements in balance and cognitive function tests. The red-light therapy notably sped up recovery compared to controls, particularly with the 810nm wavelength.
This research builds upon earlier work from this year that demonstrated how near-infrared light, when applied directly to spinal cord injuries, enhances nerve cell survival and encourages the growth of new nerve cells.
Professor Ahmed, the lead researcher, stated: “Our goal is to evolve this method into a medical device capable of improving recovery for patients with traumatic brain or spinal cord injuries to enhance their outcomes.”
The team is currently looking for commercial partners interested in co-developing the device and bringing it to market.
