Light therapy 'improves cognitive function in brain injury patients'RSS Feed

A self-administered light therapy could improve the lives of people who have suffered traumatic brain injury, research shows.

Application of light therapy using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) placed on the forehead and scalp could lead to improved cognitive function and lessening of post-traumatic stress disorder in patients with traumatic brain injury, according to a study published in journal Photomedicine and Laser Surgery.

Participants in the study exhibited improved inhibition, memory and ability to maintain focus and attention, with one of the two patients able to return to full-time work following the treatment.

Raymond J Lanzafame, editor of the journal, said: "The development of novel therapies to restore function after neurologic injury, stroke, or disease is an increasingly important goal in medical research as a result of an increase in non-fatal traumatic wounds and the increasing prevalence of dementias and other degenerative disorders in our aging population."

This comes after the journal Cell Transplantation published results hoped to further research into the brain injury seen in neurodegenerative disorders.

Researchers found that they could use stem cells taken from umbilical cord blood cells and menstrual blood cells to treat patients as they are able to differentiate into many different kinds of cell and are immunologically immature.

Serious Law, award winning brain injury law firm

Posted by Matthew Heap
 

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