#neverforget - Photobiomodulation Against Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review

TL;DR

This systematic review evaluates photobiomodulation as a promising treatment for Alzheimer's disease, highlighting its cellular mechanisms, safety in animal models, and initial human case studies supporting further clinical trials.

Contribution

It compiles and summarizes existing research on photobiomodulation for Alzheimer's, emphasizing its potential and readiness for large-scale clinical testing.

Findings

Mechanistic understanding at cellular level

Safe and effective doses identified in animal models

Initial human case studies support clinical trials

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease affects an ever-increasing number of people in the aging population. Current treatment options are limited to a narrow time frame at the mild to moderate stage of dementia, and patients are confronted with the inevitable progression of their disease. Most investigational drugs fail to prove their efficacy in clinical trials, and there are but a few preventative measures that one can take. A novel treatment approach, using photobiomodulation to increase the brain's mitochondrial function and prevent neuronal apoptosis, has shown promising results in in vitro and in vivo experiments. This systematic review aims at providing a comprehensive summary on the available research on photobiomodulation against Alzheimer's disease to support the translation of this modality from bench to bedside. It shows that the mechanistic action has been largely understood on a cellular level, safe and effective doses have been found in animal models, and first human case studies provide reason to enter large scale clinical trials. A brief outlook on study design concludes this review and provides a basis for further work on the topic.