1. Transcranial Infrared Laser Stimulation Improves Cognition in Older Bipolar Patients: Proof of Concept Study
- Author
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Erica C. Garcia-Pittman, Francisco Gonzalez-Lima, Latham H. Fink, Douglas W. Barrett, and Courtney M. O’Donnell
- Subjects
Bipolar Disorder ,Prefrontal Cortex ,chemical and pharmacologic phenomena ,Stimulation ,Proof of Concept Study ,03 medical and health sciences ,Cognition ,0302 clinical medicine ,medicine ,Humans ,Bipolar disorder ,Cognitive decline ,Prefrontal cortex ,Aged ,Aged, 80 and over ,Cross-Over Studies ,business.industry ,Lasers ,Far-infrared laser ,hemic and immune systems ,medicine.disease ,030227 psychiatry ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,Brain stimulation ,Neurology (clinical) ,Geriatrics and Gerontology ,business ,Neuroscience ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery - Abstract
This is the first study to examine if transcranial infrared laser stimulation (TILS) improves cognition in older euthymic bipolar patients, who exhibit greater cognitive decline than is expected for age-matched controls. TILS is a non-invasive novel form of photobiomodulation that augments prefrontal oxygenation and improves cognition in young adults by upregulating the mitochondrial respiratory enzyme cytochrome-c-oxidase. We used a crossover sham-controlled design to examine if TILS to bilateral prefrontal cortex produces beneficial effects on cognition in 5 euthymic bipolar patients (ages 60-85). We measured cognitive flexibility, verbal fluency, working memory, sustained attention and impulsivity with tasks that have been shown to differentiate between healthy older adults and older bipolar adults. We found TILS-induced improvements in cognitive performance on the tasks that measure cognitive flexibility and impulsivity, after 5 weekly sessions of TILS. We concluded that TILS appeared both safe and effective in helping alleviate the accelerated cognitive decline present in older bipolar patients.
- Published
- 2021