The effect of transcranial photobiomodulation on cognitive function and attentional performance of older women. - GreenMedInfo Summary
The effect of transcranial photobiomodulation on cognitive function and attentional performance of older women with mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial.
Prz Menopauzalny. 2022 Sep ;21(3):157-164. Epub 2022 Sep 28. PMID: 36254133
Shahab Papi
INTRODUCTION: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a progressive age-related condition caused by physiological and structural changes in the brain, such as neurodegeneration and hypometabolism. Transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM) is a neuromodulation technique that improves brain metabolism and oxygenation by irradiating red to near-infrared light on a specific area of the head. This study aimed to investigate the effect of multi-session tPBM on the cognitive capacities and attentional function of older women with MCI.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial, 42 older women with MCI were randomly assigned to 2 equal groups: real and sham. The mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and the attentional Go/No-Go task were used to examine the patients. On the right frontal-pole of the cortex, 5 sessions of 850 nm tPBM were given. Re-examinations were conducted on the participants. For the Go/No-Go task, the reaction time to the target (RTT), the percentage of correct trials (PCT), and the efficiency score (ES) were measured.
RESULTS: The findings revealed a significant interaction between group×time for MMSE ((1, 40) = 20,<0.001, h= 0.33), and the post-hoc paired-samples-tests revealed a substantial rise in the mean MMSE in the real group (= 15.9;= 0.001;= 9.3). Additionally, for ES ((1, 40) = 19,<0.001, h= 0.32), RTT ((1, 40) = 17,<0.001, h= 0.38), and PCT ((1, 40) = 13,<0.001, h= 0.31), a significant group×time interaction was discovered, and post-hoc paired-samples-tests revealed a significant improvement in attention performance of the real group for increases in the mean of ES ((1,40) = 20,<0.001, h= 0.33), (= 5.3,<0.001,= 0.034), decreases in the mean of RTT (= 4.8;0.001;= -37.4), and increases in the mean of PCT (= 2.67;= 0.015;= 6.3).
CONCLUSIONS: According to the findings of this study, tPBM had a positive effect on older people's attention and cognitive abilities.