Author: RedlightsontheBrain

Redlightsonthebrain is written by Catherine Hamilton, a retired doctor on behalf of Light Ahead Inc, a Tasmanian-based not-for-profit organisation. Light Ahead Inc aims to help people to learn about neurogenerative diseases and the practical, safe and scientifically-based things that may be able to help. Part of this is to provide low-cost access to red light devices, hence the DIY instructions on this blog. All sales of the Coronet red light device support the work of Light Ahead Inc.

Can red light stop brain cells from dying?

It’s been longer than intended since the blog was updated. During this time, a new article by John Mitrofanis was published in April 2017, called Why and how does light therapy offer neuroprotection in Parkinson’s disease? You can download it here: Link.

This is a great article with much detail explained with great clarity. Even better, it is only two pages.

It poses two critical questions:

Can red/near infrared light protect brain cells from dying?
If yes, then how does the light do that?

Continue reading “Can red light stop brain cells from dying?”

Can red light stop brain cells from dying?

This is a great article with much detail explained with great clarity. Even better, it is only two pages.

It poses two critical questions:

Can red/near infrared light protect brain cells from dying?
If yes, then how does the light do that?

Continue reading “Can red light stop brain cells from dying?”

Multi wavelength idea

Early versions of our devices used LEDs of a single wavelength. Different wavelengths were tried over time, but in the early cases each device featured LEDs of a single type (and therefore wavelength).

John’s research planted the idea that multiple wavelengths could improve the outcomes being achieved, so we started making devices with two or more types of LED.

The Beginning

Constant knee pain makes it hard to be active, so in mid 2015, I did a lot of sitting and reading. One of the books was Norman Doidge’s The Brain’s Way of Healing.

Chapter 4 covered the effect of red and near infrared light on the brain and spinal cord, and there were some remarkable stories told. In passing, Doidge mentioned the positive effect of red and near infrared light on arthritic joints and damaged tendons.

I went hunting on Google Scholar and found some medical journal articles that supported this possibility. I had no idea how this could be possible, but it was worth a try. I went hunting for a way to shine near infrared light on my sore knee.

The Beginning

Constant knee pain makes it hard to be active, so in mid 2015, I did a lot of sitting and reading. One of the books was Norman Doidge’s The Brain’s Way of Healing. He mentioned the positive effect of red and near infrared light on arthritic joints and damaged tendons, and on brains.

Red and near infrared light

Sunlight has a range of wavelengths, and these have been classified into four main groups: ultraviolet, visible, near infrared and far infrared. We can see the light in the visible spectrum (red, orange, yellow, green, blue indigo, violet) but we can’t see ultraviolet light and neither can we see infrared light.

Much research has been done on the effect of the sun’s ultraviolet light. It can cause premature ageing and increases the risk of skin cancers, hence the warnings to wear sunscreen to block those wavelengths from hitting the skin.

Until recent years, the effect of red and near infrared light, had been of less interest to medical science. It is now an area of increasing research, and the implications seem to be huge.

Continue reading “Red and near infrared light”