• Transcranial red/near-infrared LED may be an inexpensive, noninvasive treatment, suitable for home treatments, to improve cognitive function in TBI patients, as well as to reduce symptom severity in post-traumatic stress disorder
• In patients with closed-head, mild TBI, CT or MRI scans usually show no evidence of focal lesions, but more often, diffuse axonal injury in the anterior corona radiata and frontotemporal regions.
• PET scans of the brain have shown reduced regional glucose metabolism in bilateral frontal and temporal lobes in chronic TBI. Other studies have shown abnormal frontal-lobe activation.
• Low-level laser therapy has been shown to have beneficial cellular and physiologic effects in controlled trials.
• Transcranial infrared light has been shown to reduce brain damage in preclinical models of stroke, improve memory in middle-aged mice, and improve outcomes in clinical.
• Low-level light treatment has stimulated neuronal repair in an animal model of spinal-cord injury.
• Low-level laser therapy also increases expression of various growth factors that could induce neurogenesis in TBI.
• Studies involving patients with chronic major depression showed significant improvement in depression and anxiety for two weeks after a single light treatment.
• Transcranial near-infrared/LED light improves cognitive function in patients with chronic TBI.
• The investigators have used two different devices that have FDA approval for treatment of musculoskeletal pain. The light therapy is delivered via diodes attached to the forehead and scalp.
• The initial treatment session in a case of automobile accident in 1997 lasted five minutes. The days after treatment, the patient reported that her concentration and focus had improved, such that she could work continuously at her computer for 40 minutes, compared with 20 minutes before treatment.
• The treatment time and parameters increased gradually, and by eight weeks, the patient was able to work continuously at her computer for three hours at a time.
• The patient received a home unit after seven months and began nightly, self-administered therapy. Treatment usually occurs at bedtime because she has found that the LED protocol has improved her sleep, the authors noted.
• The second patient, a retired military officer employed as a technology consultant, had a history of multiple concussions without loss of consciousness.
• After four months of transcranial LED therapy, the patient discontinued medical disability and returned to work and has continued to work regularly.
• Follow-up neuropsychological testing showed significant improvement from baseline on tests of executive function and inhibition and memory.
• The second patient also met diagnostic criteria for PTSD prior to beginning transcranial LED therapy. Within a few months of starting daily therapy, she reported improved sleep and reduced impulsivity, irritation, and anger.
• Both patients have shown regression of improvements in cognitive dysfunction within one to two weeks of stopping the transcranial LED therapy.

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