Effects of Photobiomodulation on Changes in Cognitive Function and Regional Cerebral Blood Flow in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Uncontrolled Trial
Affiliations: [a]
Research Institute for Convergence of Biomedical Science and Technology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| [b]
Department of Psychiatry, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| [c]
Medical Research Center of Color Seven. Seoul, Republic of Korea
| [d]
Department of Nuclear Medicine and Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea
| [e]
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Republic of Korea | [f]
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine & Institute of Medical Science, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea
Correspondence:
[*]
Correspondence to: Ji Hong Min, MD and Yong-Il Shin, MD, PhD, 20 Geumo-ro, Mulgeum-eup, Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do 50612, Republic of Korea. Tel.: +82 10 9033 6923; E-mail: papered@hanmail.net. (Ji Hong) Tel.: +82 10 6535 0310; E-mail: rmshin01@gmail.com. (Yong-Il Shin)
Note: [1] These authors contributed equally to this work.
Abstract: Background:Photobiomodulation (PBM) affects local blood flow regulation through nitric oxide generation, and various studies have reported on its effect on improving cognitive function in neurodegenerative diseases. However, the effect of PBM in the areas of the vertebral arteries (VA) and internal carotid arteries (ICA), which are the major blood-supplying arteries to the brain, has not been previously investigated. Objective:We aimed to determine whether irradiating PBM in the areas of the VA and ICA, which are the major blood-supplying arteries to the brain, improved regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and cognitive function. Methods:Fourteen patients with mild cognitive impairments were treated with PBM. Cognitive assessment and single-photon emission computed tomography were implemented at the baseline and at the end of PBM. Results:Regarding rCBF, statistically significant trends were found in the medial prefrontal cortex, lateral prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and occipital lateral cortex. Based on the cognitive assessments, statistically significant trends were found in overall cognitive function, memory, and frontal/executive function. Conclusion:We confirmed the possibility that PBM treatment in the VA and ICA areas could positively affect cognitive function by increasing rCBF. A study with a larger sample size is needed to validate the potential of PBM.
