The effects of photobiomodulation treatment on cognitive functioning and symptomatology in mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A pilot study

Poster Session A - Saturday, April 13, 2024, 2:30 – 4:30 pm EDT, Sheraton Hall ABC

Hope Nyarady¹ (hopenyar@buffalo.edu), David Shucard¹, Praveen Arany¹, Thomas Mang¹, Janet Shucard¹, Thomas Covey¹; ¹University at Buffalo

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are among the most common acquired brain injuries in individuals under the age of 45. Cognitive deficits are often observed and reported through neuropsychological testing following TBI. Despite that TBI is among the most common acquired brain injuries, there are no known standard-of-care treatment approaches for TBIs. Photobiomodulation (PBM) is an emerging low-level laser therapeutic application that is known to provide pain relief and inflammation relief following an injury, however the effectiveness that this treatment has on cognitive functioning and symptomatology in mild TBI has not been well-characterized. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate if PBM treatment promotes recovery of function within individuals who have recently suffered a mild TBI. In a randomized double-blind pilot study, individuals with a mild TBI were assigned to either PBM treatment or placebo control group, across six sessions, within three months of injury. Before and after the intervention, all participants completed a battery of neuropsychological tests and self-reported symptoms across multiple categories. Findings indicated that PBM treatment resulted in a more pronounced improvement in fatigue, sensory, cognitive, and mental functioning symptoms compared to the placebo group. The analyses also indicated that, compared to the placebo group, individuals who had received PBM treatment showed more pronounced improvement on multiple neuropsychological tests. These findings provide preliminary evidence that PBM can help reduce the burden of symptoms and improve cognition after a mild TBI, supporting the notion that PBM can be used as a potential treatment approach for TBIs.

Topic Area: EXECUTIVE PROCESSES: Other