Efficacy of Photobiomodulation Therapy in Older Adults: A Systematic Review

Overview

Journal Biomedicines

Specialty Biomedical Engineering

Date 2024 Jul 27

PMID 39061982

Authors

Lidvine Godaert

Moustapha Drame

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The aim was to determine whether there is any available evidence on the efficacy of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) in older adults.

Methods: A literature search was performed including all articles published up to February 2024. Studies reporting data on PBMT in older adults were included. This study was registered with PROSPERO.

Results: In total, 406 studies were identified. After eliminating duplicates and irrelevant studies, 10 records were included in the final review. In all included studies, the protocols used to deliver PBMT were different in terms of type of device, wavelength, irradiation duration, and pulse frequency. In neurodegenerative diseases, two studies reported non-significant results, while two studies reported efficacy of PBMT. In wounds and ulcers, two out of three studies reported efficacy of PBMT. In macular degeneration, one study reported efficacy of PBMT. One study on hyposalivation reported efficacy of PBMT.

Conclusion: PBMT appears to be a promising complementary treatment. All studies reported good compliance and safety throughout the treatment. In the future, it will be essential to harmonize PBMT parameters. Further studies are warranted to define the best indications, the most effective protocols, and the right population to target for use in routine practice.

References

Hamblin M . How to Write a Good Photobiomodulation Article. Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg. 2019; 37(6):325-326. DOI: 10.1089/photob.2019.4648. View

Lucas C, van Gemert M, de Haan R . Efficacy of low-level laser therapy in the management of stage III decubitus ulcers: a prospective, observer-blinded multicentre randomised clinical trial. Lasers Med Sci. 2003; 18(2):72-7. DOI: 10.1007/s10103-003-0259-5. View

Chao L . Effects of Home Photobiomodulation Treatments on Cognitive and Behavioral Function, Cerebral Perfusion, and Resting-State Functional Connectivity in Patients with Dementia: A Pilot Trial. Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg. 2019; 37(3):133-141. DOI: 10.1089/photob.2018.4555. View

Liebert A, Bicknell B, Johnstone D, Gordon L, Kiat H, Hamblin M . "Photobiomics": Can Light, Including Photobiomodulation, Alter the Microbiome?. Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg. 2019; 37(11):681-693. PMC: 6859693. DOI: 10.1089/photob.2019.4628. View

Johnstone D, Moro C, Stone J, Benabid A, Mitrofanis J . Turning On Lights to Stop Neurodegeneration: The Potential of Near Infrared Light Therapy in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease. Front Neurosci. 2016; 9:500. PMC: 4707222. DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2015.00500. View

Robijns J, Nair R, Lodewijckx J, Arany P, Barasch A, Bjordal J . Photobiomodulation therapy in management of cancer therapy-induced side effects: WALT position paper 2022. Front Oncol. 2022; 12:927685. PMC: 9468822. DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.927685. View

Markowitz S, Devenyi R, Munk M, Croissant C, Tedford S, Ruckert R . A DOUBLE-MASKED, RANDOMIZED, SHAM-CONTROLLED, SINGLE-CENTER STUDY WITH PHOTOBIOMODULATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF DRY AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION. Retina. 2019; 40(8):1471-1482. PMC: 7392581. DOI: 10.1097/IAE.0000000000002632. View

Degerman M, Ohman M, Bertilson B . Photobiomodulation, as additional treatment to traditional dressing of hard-to-heal venous leg ulcers, in frail elderly with municipality home healthcare. PLoS One. 2022; 17(9):e0274023. PMC: 9477261. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274023. View

Blivet G, Relano-Gines A, Wachtel M, Touchon J . A Randomized, Double-Blind, and Sham-Controlled Trial of an Innovative Brain-Gut Photobiomodulation Therapy: Safety and Patient Compliance. J Alzheimers Dis. 2022; 90(2):811-822. DOI: 10.3233/JAD-220467. View

10.

Valverde A, Mitrofanis J . Photobiomodulation for Hypertension and Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis. 2022; 90(3):1045-1055. PMC: 9741744. DOI: 10.3233/JAD-220632. View

11.

Saltmarche A, Naeser M, Ho K, Hamblin M, Lim L . Significant Improvement in Cognition in Mild to Moderately Severe Dementia Cases Treated with Transcranial Plus Intranasal Photobiomodulation: Case Series Report. Photomed Laser Surg. 2017; 35(8):432-441. PMC: 5568598. DOI: 10.1089/pho.2016.4227. View

12.

Hamblin M . Shining light on the head: Photobiomodulation for brain disorders. BBA Clin. 2016; 6:113-124. PMC: 5066074. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbacli.2016.09.002. View

13.

Enengl J, Hamblin M, Dungel P . Photobiomodulation for Alzheimer's Disease: Translating Basic Research to Clinical Application. J Alzheimers Dis. 2020; 75(4):1073-1082. PMC: 7369090. DOI: 10.3233/JAD-191210. View

14.

Cardoso F, Gonzalez-Lima F, Gomes da Silva S . Photobiomodulation for the aging brain. Ageing Res Rev. 2021; 70:101415. DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2021.101415. View

15.

McGee C, Liebert A, Bicknell B, Pang V, Isaac V, McLachlan C . A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study of a Transcranial Photobiomodulation Helmet in Parkinson's Disease: Post-Hoc Analysis of Motor Outcomes. J Clin Med. 2023; 12(8). PMC: 10146323. DOI: 10.3390/jcm12082846. View

16.

Mathur R, Sahu K, Saraf S, Patheja P, Khan F, Gupta P . Low-level laser therapy as an adjunct to conventional therapy in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. Lasers Med Sci. 2016; 32(2):275-282. DOI: 10.1007/s10103-016-2109-2. View

17.

Hamblin M . Photobiomodulation for Alzheimer's Disease: Has the Light Dawned?. Photonics. 2019; 6(3). PMC: 6664299. DOI: 10.3390/photonics6030077. View

18.

Bensadoun R, Epstein J, Nair R, Barasch A, Raber-Durlacher J, Migliorati C . Safety and efficacy of photobiomodulation therapy in oncology: A systematic review. Cancer Med. 2020; 9(22):8279-8300. PMC: 7666741. DOI: 10.1002/cam4.3582. View

19.

Cardoso F, Lopes Martins R, Gomes da Silva S . Therapeutic Potential of Photobiomodulation In Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review. J Lasers Med Sci. 2021; 11(Suppl 1):S16-S22. PMC: 7956031. DOI: 10.34172/jlms.2020.S3. View

20.

Maksimovich I . Intracerebral Transcatheter Laser Photobiomodulation Therapy in the Treatment of Binswanger's Disease and Vascular Parkinsonism: Research and Clinical Experience. Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg. 2019; 37(10):606-614. DOI: 10.1089/photob.2019.4649. View