Red Light Therapy for Alzheimer’s?

We did some research to see if we wanted to bring red light therapy into our assisted living homes.  Every day there seems to be new research showing that non-pharmaceutical interventions can really help someone with symptoms of cognitive decline. One very promising area of research seems to suggest  red light therapy for Alzheimer’s patients. Looks like the Bredesen Protocol and Enhance Protocol use this type of therapy as well.

Can red light therapy improve the condition of someone with Alzheimer’s? Read on to find out what we learned.

What is Red Light Therapy?

Also known as photobiomodulation, red light therapy takes electromagnetic light and shines it on our skin. The energy from the ‘red lights’ penetrates into our cells and brings about healing changes. The energy affects enzymes in your mitochondria which are the power plants of your cell. The red light gives the mitochondria an additional energy boost which helps power the cells and repair damage.

Right now red light therapy is used in a host of conditions that improve people’s health:

It also assists in wound healing, clearing up scars, inflammation, pain and hair growth. Now researchers are looking at is there a use for red light therapy for Alzheimer’s and other forms of cognitive decline?

Red Light Therapy for Alzheimer’s

We are trying to adopt more of the therapies associated with the Enhance Protocol from A Mind for all Seasons into the Memory Care services in our assisted living homes. Since part of the Protocol is red-light therapy for Alzheimer’s, we are adding it to our resident’s treatment plans, as our some of the other assisted living homes that are working with A Mind for All Seasons.

As A Mind For All Seasons explains on their website about red light therapy for Alzheimer’s:

This process creates mild oxidants, leading to gene transcription and cellular repair/healing. The process also clears a chain clogged by nitric oxide. The nitric oxide is then released back into the system. Nitric oxide is a molecule our body produces to help its 50 trillion cells communicate with each other. Additionally, nitric oxide helps to dilate the blood vessels and improve blood circulation.

One of the big problems with Alzheimer’s is there is a reduced blood flow and oxygen to the brain. By stimulating blood circulation in someone with cognitive decline, the body can increase that blood flow and oxygen.

As red light shines on the head, it will promote cellular healing and increased energy. Although we need more research, it seems like red light therapy for Alzheimer’s is making more and more sense.

Conclusion

We will be installing some red light therapy for Alzheimer’s residents in our assisted living homes in the next several months. We are excited to see what it can do. The red light therapy will be only one component of the way we treat our residents who have Alzheimer’s. Although there currently is no cure for Alzheimer’s there seems to be a lot of promising treatments. We want to do everything we can to improve the health of our residents.

Have you used red light therapy for any medical condition? We’d love to know if it worked for you. Please leave a comment letting us know.