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Scientists at the University of Utah<\/a> are now exploring ways to protect the brain before serious damage appears. One promising approach uses red light therapy, also known as photobiomodulation.<\/p>\n Instead of treating injuries after symptoms appear, this method aims to support brain health during ongoing exposure. A new study involving college football players offers encouraging results.<\/p>\n Repeated hits strain the brain<\/p>\n Doctors have studied brain damage from repeated head impacts for decades. Older terms like punch drunk syndrome and newer ones like chronic traumatic encephalopathy describe long-term damage linked to repeated force on the brain.<\/p>\n Over time, repeated head acceleration can cause memory problems, mood changes, confusion, and even dementia. <\/p>\n Research shows that force applied to the body can still travel to the head, stressing delicate brain tissue<\/a> without a direct blow.<\/p>\n Inflammation plays a major role in this damage. After head acceleration, immune cells release chemical signals meant to help repair tissue. Short-term inflammation helps healing. Ongoing inflammation causes harm.<\/p>\n Long-lasting immune activity damages neurons, disrupts communication between brain cells, and weakens repair systems. Repeated inflammation increases the risk of serious neurological disease later in life.<\/p>\n Using light to protect brains<\/p>\n Photobiomodulation uses red to near-infrared light delivered through the scalp and nasal cavity. <\/p>\n Light at a wavelength of 810 nanometers reaches the outer layers of the brain and interacts with mitochondria, which act as energy centers inside cells.<\/p>\n This light boosts energy production and improves oxygen use. More energy helps brain cells stay strong and recover from stress.<\/p>\n Light therapy also affects inflammation. Research shows that photobiomodulation can lower harmful chemical signals, reduce oxidative stress, and regulate immune cell behavior.<\/p>\n Better control of inflammation reduces secondary damage after repeated strain. Light exposure also improves blood flow<\/a> and helps balance calcium inside neurons, which protects nerve fibers and supports healthy brain signaling.<\/p>\n American football involves frequent head acceleration events. Many impacts cause no visible symptoms but still stress brain tissue.<\/p>\n Studies estimate that one athlete can experience hundreds of head acceleration events in a single season. <\/p>\n Helmets reduce impact force but cannot fully prevent internal biological reactions once force reaches the brain.<\/p>\n Researchers wanted to see if photobiomodulation could strengthen the brain during active exposure. This approach focuses on early protection rather than waiting for injury to occur.<\/p>\n Testing light therapy in players<\/p>\n The study included 26 male collegiate football players between the ages 18 and 25. Researchers randomly assigned participants to receive either active photobiomodulation or a sham treatment. <\/p>\n Both groups used identical headsets and nasal devices. Only the active devices emitted near-infrared light.<\/p>\n Each participant completed 20-minute sessions three times a week during a 16-week football season. Brain scans took place before and after the season using magnetic resonance imaging.<\/p>\n Advanced imaging methods allowed scientists to measure inflammation related immune cell activity and the organization of white matter fibers inside the brain.<\/p>\n What the brain scans revealed<\/p>\n Players who received the sham treatment showed increased signs of inflammation and axonal stress over the season. <\/p>\n Imaging revealed rising restricted diffusion, which suggests immune cell<\/a> buildup linked to inflammation. Increased quantitative anisotropy pointed to axonal strain and attempted repair.<\/p>\n Players who received active photobiomodulation showed much greater stability across brain regions. <\/p>\n In some areas, inflammation markers even decreased. This stability suggests lower immune activation and better preservation of white matter structure.<\/p>\n \u201cMy first reaction was, \u2018There\u2019s no way this can be real.\u2019 That\u2019s how striking it was,\u201d said Dr. Hannah Lindsey, first author on the study.<\/p>\n Targeting high-risk brain areas<\/p>\n Repeated head acceleration affects certain brain regions more than others. These include the brainstem, midbrain, corpus callosum, and deep white matter tracts. <\/p>\n Scientists call this pattern a cone of vulnerability because mechanical strain concentrates in these areas.<\/p>\n Photobiomodulation appeared to limit inflammation<\/a> in many vulnerable regions. Some recovery also appeared in areas outside the most stressed zones, suggesting broader protective effects.<\/p>\n Why red light works on the brain <\/p>\n Red light therapy acts on several biological systems at once. Light activates mitochondrial enzymes, increasing energy availability inside cells. A stronger energy supply supports repair and balance within neurons.<\/p>\n Light exposure also reduces excessive immune signaling, which helps prevent long-lasting inflammation. Improved blood flow delivers oxygen and nutrients that support healing.<\/p>\n Past animal and human studies link photobiomodulation to better thinking ability<\/a>, fewer headaches, improved sleep, and better movement after brain injury.<\/p>\n A new path to protection<\/p>\n Study senior author Dr. Elisabeth Wilde is a professor of neurology at the University of Utah.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we first started this project, I was extremely skeptical,\u201d said Dr. Wilde. \u201cBut we\u2019ve seen consistent results across multiple of our studies, so it\u2019s starting to be quite compelling.\u201d<\/p>\n Larger trials will test these findings further. A Department of Defense funded study will include 300 participants with ongoing brain injury symptoms, including military personnel and first responders.<\/p>\n If future studies confirm safety and benefit, photobiomodulation could offer a simple and noninvasive way to protect brain health during repeated exposure.<\/p>\n Athletes, soldiers, and emergency workers<\/a> could gain added protection without drugs or surgery. Early prevention may lower long-term neurological risks and support healthier lives.<\/p>\n The study appears in the Journal of Neurotrauma<\/a>.<\/p>\n Image Credit: Hannah Lindsey, PhD<\/p>\n \u2014\u2013<\/p>\n Like what you read? Subscribe to our newsletter<\/a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.\u00a0<\/p>\n Check us out on EarthSnap<\/a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls<\/a> and Earth.com.<\/p>\n \u2014\u2013<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Repeated head impacts happen more often than many people realize. Contact sports, military training, and emergency response work…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":432019,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[49,48,66,61],"class_list":["post-432018","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-technology","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-science","tag-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/432018","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=432018"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/432018\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/432019"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=432018"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=432018"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=432018"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}