Photobiomodulation as a potential therapeutic strategy for improving cognitive and functional outcomes in traumatic brain injury

Cognitive impairments are common in individuals that have experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI), and these cognitive disturbances can impact vocational outcomes and quality of life. There is emerging evidence that noninvasive photobiomodulation (PBM) treatment applied to the brain may be a viable option for treating the cognitive symptoms of TBI. In animal models of TBI, PBM treatment has been found to enhance mitochondrial function, promote neural repair, and improve learning and memory. Studies in healthy human subjects indicate that PBM treatment can enhance cognitive performance in humans as well. Case-based studies in TBI patients suggest that PBM therapy can improve cognitive outcomes in clinically diagnosed TBI patients, particularly in the domains of processing speed, inhibitory control, and verbal learning and memory. However, the findings in TBI patients are preliminary, and further work is necessary. Further clinical trials that are sufficiently powered and include placebo controls, double-blinded designs, and a comprehensive battery of outcome assessments will provide additional clarity about the efficacy of PBM as a therapy for cognitive dysfunction in TBI.