Medical Research – Red lights on the brain

Parkinson’s and AI

Artificial intelligence is making its way into so many areas.

A report from the BBC makes very interesting reading.

Click here.

Thanks to Gertrūda Valasevičiūtė on Unsplash for the futuristic image.

Wavelengths

I had an interesting query today regarding the penetration of red and near infrared light into the body.

Question:

Does the penetration of red and near infrared light increase as the wavelength increases?

Answer:

Alas, no. The human body isn’t going to make life that easy for us!

Penetration studies have shown that 810 nanometres (written as 810nm) has the best ability to penetrate through the skin and into the body tissues.

There are some wavelengths in the red and near infrared spectrum that hardly penetrate at all, while others are better. 810nm is the best.

810nm is in the near infrared range. Because it is at the very edge of our ability to see, an 810nm light looks very pale.

Visible red 670nm is pretty good, but not as good as 810nm. However, when the 670nm wavelength reaches the cell, it is highly efficient at getting the cell batteries (mitochondria) to recharge and kickstart the cell.

Thanks To Steve Harvey on Unsplash for the great photo from Nottingham.

Memory

The New Yorker has reviewed a non-fiction book written by the author of Still Alice.

Here’s the link.

It is a really interesting article, and definitely worth a read.

Exercise and sleep in Alzheimer’s

The previous blog looked at a journal article entitled: Effects of exercise on sleep in neurodegenerative disease, and focussed on its comments about sleep, exercise and Parkinson’s disease. This post looks at what the article has to say about exercise, sleep and Alzheimer’s disease.

Covid-19 and Parkinsonism

If things weren’t already frightening enough thanks to the pandemic, with the number of new cases climbing, and even more people dying, along comes a journal article that is rather disconcerting.

It is called Parkinsonism as a Third Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic? I didn’t put the question mark at the end of the article title – this was placed there by the Melbourne-based authors. It is a question, a realistic and one that has to be faced and planned for.

Stroke

I’ve had some queries in recent weeks about the use of red and near infrared lights in people who have had a stroke, especially if speech has been affected.