Many neuroscience publications indicate that the brain is modular and composed of different networks

The key to successful brain stimulation (and brain photobiomodulation) is to focus on networks that hold the most importance to your objective.

The Default Mode Network (DMN) is a collection of brain regions that are active when an individual is at rest or not focused on the external environment. Research has linked the DMN to various cognitive functions and mental states, including:

1. Mind-Wandering and Daydreaming: The DMN is associated with spontaneous thoughts that occur when the mind is not focused on the task at hand. It plays a role in mind-wandering and daydreaming activities.
2. Self-Referential Thinking: It’s involved in self-referential thoughts, introspection, and mental simulations about oneself, such as autobiographical memory retrieval, envisioning the future, or contemplating one’s characteristics and emotions.
3. Social Cognition: The DMN is implicated in processes related to understanding others’ mental states, empathy, theory of mind (the ability to attribute mental states to oneself and others), and social awareness.
4. Memory Processing: It plays a role in consolidating memories, particularly those related to personal experiences and episodic memory.
5. Creative Thinking: Some studies suggest that the DMN is involved in creative thinking processes, as it allows the brain to make connections between different ideas and concepts.
6. Mental Health Conditions: Dysfunctions in the DMN have been associated with various mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer’s disease. Changes in the activity or connectivity within the DMN have been observed in individuals with these conditions.

Understanding the functions of the DMN provides insights into various aspects of cognition, consciousness, and mental health. However, research in this field is ongoing, and there’s still much to learn about the exact roles and interactions of the DMN in different cognitive processes and conditions.

What is the Default Mode Network?

The Default Mode Network (DMN) is a network of highly interconnected brain regions responsible for internal modes of cognition.

The DMN has been linked to the general health of the brain and is involved in various domains of cognitive and social processing.

The term “default” initially arose from the discovery of the network’s heightened activity during idle periods (aka. when you are not actively thinking), implying that this network is active by default. Since then, additional research has shown this to be a misnomer. The DMN is also active when your brain is engaged in thinking, such as remembering one’s past or thinking about what might happen in the future.^{[41, 42, 43]}

The DMN includes hubs such as the Medial Prefrontal Cortex (mPFC), the Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex(vMPFC), the Precuneus, the Inferior Parietal Lobule(IPL), Lateral Temporal Cortex (LTC) and the Posterior cingulate cortex(pCC). Findings from diffusion MRI and resting state fMRI show that neurons in the DMN regions are linked to each other through large tracts of axons and this causes activity in these areas to be correlated with one another. ^[22],[23]

The roles of the Default Mode Network

The Default Mode Network (DMN) plays several crucial roles concerning brain functions. Its roles are linked to what defines us as human beings from a cognitive perspective. It plays several vital tasks in memory functions, imagination, self-referencing, and socializing. Who you are as a person is theorized to be stored within these hubs.

The DMN is likely the neurological basis for the self ^[22]

• Autobiographical information: Memories of collection of events and facts about one’s self
• Self-reference: Referring to traits and descriptions of one’s self
• Self-emotional state: Reflecting about one’s own emotional state

Thinking about others ^[23]

• Theory of mind: Thinking about the thoughts of others and what they might or might not know
• Emotions of other: Understanding the emotions of other people and empathizing with their feelings
• Moral reasoning: Determining a just and an unjust result of an action

Remembering the past and thinking about the future ^[23]

• Remembering the past: Recalling events that happened in the past
• Imagining the future: Envisioning events that might happen in the future
• Episodic memory: Detailed memory related to specific events in time
• Story comprehension: Understanding and remembering a narrative

The Value of Targeting the Default Mode Network with Pulsed 810nm NIR energy

Since its discovery, interest has grown in the clinical utility and implications of the DMN. The clinical significance of the DMN has been established or implicated in neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. Therefore, maintaining the health and improving the performance of the DMN is of particular value. This is why the Vielight Neuro is designed to deliver NIR light transcranially using four diodes targeted at the DMN.

Dysfunction of the DMN has been associated with Alzheimer’s disease, autism, schizophrenia, depression and other neurologic diseases,  Parkinson’s, ^{[25] [26]} multiple sclerosis (MS) ^[27] and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). ^[28]  Targeting  the DMN via PBM may therefore be an important therapeutic strategy in the treatment of these diseases. The table below summarizes the research done to date using Vielight technology for various diseases related to the DMN.

Summary of DMN findings in neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions.

Neurologic Condition	Relation to the DMN	Vielight Photobiomodulation Studies
Alzheimer’s Disease	Decreased functional connectivity between posterior and anterior portions of the DMN [31] Overlap between the DMN and patterns of amyloid deposits [32]	PBM increased connectivity between the posterior cingulate cortex and lateral parietal nodes within the default-mode network in the PBM group. [36] (Link) Significant improvement after 12 weeks of PBM (MMSE, p < 0.003; ADAS-cog, p < 0.023). Increased function, better sleep, fewer angry outbursts, less anxiety, and wandering were reported post-PBM. There were no negative side effects. [37] (Link)
Parkinson’s Disease (AD)	Coordinated activity of striatum and the DMN [33] Network disruptions in the DMN and CEN — heightened activation and dysfunctional connectivity [34]	Measures of mobility, cognition, dynamic balance and fine motor skill were significantly improved (p < 0.05) with PBM treatment for 12 weeks and up to one year. [38] (Link)
Traumatic Brain Injury	DMN connectivity strength predicts emotion recognition and level of social integration in TBI. [30]	Increased perfusion in the frontal, temporal, and occipital lobes and the hippocampus after 8 weeks of PBM treatments. [39] (Link) Pending publication: Department of Neurology, University of Utah for TBI/concussion with pro football players. Here is a documentary-style interview with the researchers and participants: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTxITq7j9iE&ab_channel=VielightInc
Autism Spectrum Disorder	Structural and functional disruptions to key nodes of the DMN, their connectivity with each other, and atypical patterns of connectivity with other brain regions play an important role in the symptomatology of ASD. [35]	tPBM was associated with a reduction in ASD severity, as shown by a decrease in CARS scores during the intervention (p < 0.001). A relevant reduction in noncompliant behavior and in parental stress have been found. Moreover, a reduction in behavioral and cognitive rigidity was reported as well as an improvement in attentional functions and in sleep quality. [40]

Anatomy of the DMN: roles of the hubs

The DMN is composed of several hubs that also perform their own individualized tasks.
This is an introduction to the different hubs of the DMN and what their roles are in the human brain.

Medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC)

The medial prefrontal cortex is located within the brain’s frontal lobe. This region is located behind the forehead.

The medial prefrontal cortex plays a regulatory role in several cognitive functions including attention, inhibitory control, habit formation and working, spatial and long-term memory. ^[1]

The mPFC is a common region of injury in traumatic brain injury.

Ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC)

The ventromedial prefrontal cortex is also located within the brain’s frontal lobe. This region is located right above the eyes and nose.

The ventromedial prefrontal cortex plays a role in decision-making, self-control, and the regulation of emotional responses. ^{[2, 3]}

It is also involved in the cognitive evaluation of morality. ^[4]

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Precuneus

The precuneus is a small section of the superior parietal lobe and it is thought to be the core hub of the DMN. ^[9]

It is involved in several vital cognitive and visuospatial roles as outlined below.

Cognitive roles:
• Self-consciousness (such as self awareness) ^[5]
• Spatial memory (remembering different locations as well as spatial relations between objects) ^[6]
• Episodic memory (remembering everyday events) ^[7]
• Source memory (remembering the origin of a memory or of knowledge) ^[8]

Visuospatial:
• Motor imagery. ^[10] Motor imagery is used in sport training as mental practice of action, neurological rehabilitation.
• Motor coordination. ^[11]
Motor coordination is the orchestrated movement of multiple body parts as required to accomplish intended actions, like running or throwing.

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Inferior parietal lobule (IPL)

The inferior parietal lobule is located on the left and right side of the rear-half of the brain.

The IPL supports some of the most distinctive human mental capacities:

• Language
• Pattern learning
• Mathematical operations ^[12]
• Perception of emotions in facial stimuli

The inferior parietal lobe is a foremost convergence zone of diverse mental capacities, several of which are potentially most developed in the human species.

Targeting the IPL with PBM holds great potential to improve cognitive performance in professions that require mathematical or analytical ability.

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Posterior cingulate cortex

The posterior cingulate cortex (pCC) can be found around the midline of the brain.

The pCC forms a central node in the default mode network of the brain.

It is highly connected and communicates with various brain networks simultaneously and is involved in diverse functions. ^[13]

Cerebral blood flow and metabolic rate in the pCC are approximately 40% higher than average across the brain. ^{[14], [15]}

Memory

The pCC has been linked to:

• Spatial memory (remembering different locations as well as spatial relations between objects)
• Autobiographical memories (autobiographical memory is a memory system consisting of episodes recollected from an individual’s life)
  the pCC does not show this activity when affected by Alzheimer’s Disease. ^[21]
• Working memory performance (abnormalities of the ventral pCC is related to a decline) ^[17]

Intrinsic control networks

The pCC has also been strongly implicated as a key part of several intrinsic control networks. ^{[14], [15]}

• The dorsal attention network(control of visual attention and eye movement)
• The frontoparietal control network (involved in executive motor control). ^[14]

Meditation

The pCC has been found to be activated during self-related thinking and deactivated during meditation and undistracted, effortless mind wandering. ^[20] These results track closely with findings about the role of the pCC in the DMN.

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Temporal lobes

The temporal lobes (TL) sit behind the ears and are the second largest lobe.

The TL is involved in processing sensory input for:

• Visual processing (complex stimuli such as faces and scenes)
• Auditory processing (processes signals from the ears into meaningful units such as speech and words)
• Language comprehension
• Visual memory (visual memoryis the ability to remember what something looks like)

The dominant temporal lobe, which is the left side in most people, is involved in understanding language and learning and remembering verbal information.

The non-dominant lobe, which is typically the right temporal lobe, is involved in learning and remembering non-verbal information (e.g. visuo-spatial material and music).

For language learners and musicians, a well-performing temporal lobe plays a crucial role in maximizing performance in these areas.

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Hippocampal area

The hippocampus can be found within the temporal lobes.

The hippocampus plays important roles in the formation of:

• short-term memory to long-term memory
• spatial memory that enables navigation.

In Alzheimer’s disease (and other forms of dementia), the hippocampus is one of the first regions of the brain to suffer damage ^[18] short-term memory loss and disorientation are included among the early symptoms.

While a relatively small subregion within the temporal lobes, the hippocampal area plays important roles in memory and is an region of interest in concurrent neurological research.

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Conclusion: Engineering pathway for brain photobiomodulation of the DMN

At Vielight, our thesis behind the Vielight Neuro was to select the DMN and its hubs because of its and their many important roles in human cognitive processes, such as self-awareness, memory, emotions, imagination, mathematical and language processing.

Additionally, through our patented intranasal technology, we are able to reach the vMPFC with pulsed 810nm NIR energy, an advantage that is unique to the Vielight Neuro versus anything else out there.

To read more on the Vielight Neuro’s design, follow this link: https://www.vielight.com/understanding-the-vielight-neuro/

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1. A growing problem facing the elderly – age-related cognitive decline
2. Several factors of brain aging and age-related cognitive decline
3. Brain photobiomodulation (PBM) and mitochondrial function
4. Brain PBM and metabolic effects
5. Brain PBM and anti-inflammatory effects
6. Brain PBM leads to a reduction in neuronal excitotoxicity
7. Brain PBM increases cerebral vascularity and oxygenation
8. Published research – Brain PBM within elderly demographics

A growing problem facing the elderly – age-related cognitive decline.

Due to advances in medical technology, the elderly demographic is the fastest growing segment of the global population. Consequently, the side effects of natural age-related cognitive decline – such as slowed thinking, memory recall and low mental energy is an increasingly prevalent problem because of the growth of the elderly population and the negative qualitative impacts on their quality of life.

On the other hand, advancements in brain stimulation research combined with technological innovation has made longevity (or anti-aging) neurotechnology a promising proposition for  in the 21st century.

The question arises: how can brain photobiomodulation be used as a longevity biohacking tool to partially mitigate the negative side effects from brain aging, by augmenting certain physiological processes?

In this article, we’ll reference published research studies to explore how brain photobiomodulation could be used for longevity and anti-aging by improving neuronal mitochondrial function and overall enhanced holistic brain performance.

Please note that nothing known can reverse genetic aging and its negative effects, but lifestyle and technological interventions have the potential to lessen or mitigate some of aging’s negative effects.

Several factors of brain aging and age-related cognitive decline

Brain aging is a natural biological process that results in a decline in brain physiological functions. Multiple factors contribute to this phenomenon.

One of the notable factors of brain aging is a gradual decline in mitochondrial function within neurons. This leads to a decline in cognitive function and suboptimal brain performance because neurons experience a reduction in mitochondrial energy metabolism.

Additionally, a decrease in cerebral blood flow and oxygenation due to a loss in brain vascularity leads to a decline in cognitive function.^[19]

The aging brain is also characterized by an increase neuroinflammation.^[17] Scientists have linked neuroinflammation with cognitive decline and higher risks for age-related cognitive impairment.^[18]

What are mitochondria and neurons?

• Mitochondria are the batteries of the cell. These membrane-bound cell organelles (mitochondrion, singular) generate most of the chemical energy needed to power the cell’s biochemical reactions. Chemical energy produced by the mitochondria is stored in a small molecule called adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
• Neurons are information messengers. Neurons, sometimes called nerve cells, make up around 10 percent of the brain; the rest consists of glial cells and astrocytes that support and nourish neurons. They use electrical impulses and chemical signals to transmit information between different areas of the brain, and between the brain and the rest of the nervous system.

Focusing on neuronal mitochondria and the aging process

Neuronal mitochondria play key roles in regulating the brain aging process. When their function declines, the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is reduced, leading to a reduction in neuronal metabolism. Additionally, a decline in mitochondrial function leads to reduced activation of signaling pathways and transcription factors that modulate the expression of various proteins.^[1]

Note: Transcription factors regulate the transcription of genes— the process of copying into RNA during protein synthesis (quick fact: at least 10,000 different proteins make you what you are and keep you that way). Proteins are the building blocks of who you are.

Brain photobiomodulation and mitochondrial function

Brain photobiomodulation holds the potential to enhance mitochondrial function, partially mitigating the negative effects of aging.

The mechanism of photobiomodulation (PBM) is due to the ability of cells to absorb photons of red-to-near infrared light (620–1100 nm) by the mitochondria photoacceptor, cytochrome c oxidase (CCO).^[2]

Note: CCO is the fourth enzymatic complex of the mitochondrial respiratory chain and it catalyzes the reaction reducing oxygen into water, which is coupled to the production of metabolic energy in cells.

The mitochondrial biomechanisms of photobiomodulation

CCO upregulation

The absorption of red to NIR photons by mitochondria CCO triggers a series of cellular and physiological effects occur in the brain, also known as CCO upregulation.

CCO upregulation leads to:

• A small increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), which activate mitochondrial signaling pathways linked to neuroprotection. ^[3]
• An increase in nitric oxide (NO) which stimulate vasodilation and cerebral blood flow.^[4]
• An increase in ATP production ^[5]

Combined, these effects trigger and improve the activation of signaling pathways and transcription factors that modulate the long-term expression of various proteins and metabolic pathways in the brain.^[6] Additionally, electrophysiological effects on the human brain have also been demonstrated by PBM in older people.^{[7, 8]}

Metabolic effects and brain oxygenation

The metabolic effects of PBM in the elderly have been shown to increase cerebral blood flow (CBF) due to the increase in CCO activity, leading to an increase in brain oxygenation. Photobiomodulation of the prefrontal cortex was able to increase the resting-state EEG alpha, beta and gamma power, and more efficient prefrontal fMRI response, facilitating cognitive processing in the elderly. ^[8] Additionally, photobiomodulation of the Default Mode Network (DMN) has also been shown to increase cerebral perfusion due to an increase in mitochondrial activity. ^[9]

Brain PBM and anti-inflammatory effects

In addition to the above findings, PBM may be a promising strategy for improving aging brains because of its anti-inflammatory effects. ^{[10, 11]}

Brain PBM leads to a reduction in neuronal excitotoxicity

In 2022, researchers from the University of Alberta published a multi-layered study investigating the way that living cells, cellular structures, and components such as microtubules and tubulin respond to near-infrared photobiomodulation (NIR PBM) using the Vielight Neuro Alpha.

Their study showed that PBM balances excitatory stimulation with inhibition, indicating that PBM may reduce excitotoxicity which is relevant to the maintenance of a healthy brain. This study also showed that low-intensity PBM upregulates mitochondrial potential and improves physiological brain functions impaired due to trauma or neurodegeneration. ^[14]

Brain PBM increases cerebral vascularity and oxygenation

Aging is accompanied by changes in tissue structure, often resulting in functional decline. The blood vessels within the brain are no exception. As one ages, a decrease in blood flow to the brain is caused by a loss of cerebral vascularity, leading to cognitive decline when neurons cannot obtain sufficient oxygen.^[21] Brain photobiomodulation has also been shown to increase cerebral blood flow due to the vasodilation that occurs after the release of nitric oxide.^[20]

Summary

These findings are promising because as one gets older, mitochondrial function decreases, cerebral perfusion and oxygenation decreases^[12] , inflammation increases and brain vascularity decreases.

However, brain photobiomodulation has the potential to partially improve mitochondrial function, cerebral blood flow, brain vascularity and potentially, reduce inflammation.

Published research – Brain PBM within elderly demographics

In 2017, researchers from the Department of Psychology and Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin found that brain photobiomodulation increases resting-state EEG alpha, beta and gamma power, promotes more efficient fMRI activity, and facilitates behavioral cognitive processing in middle-aged and older adults at risk for cognitive decline. No adverse effects were reported.

These findings support the potential of brain photobiomodulation to augment neurocognitive function and to combat aging-related and vascular disease-induced cognitive decline ^[13]

In 2019, Dr. Chao from the Center for Imaging of Neurodegenerative Diseases, San Francisco VA Medical Center conducted a study on patients in their 80s diagnosed with dementia. The NIR PBM treatments were administered by a study partner at home three times per week with the Vielight Neuro Gamma device. After 12 weeks, there were improvements in the ADAS-cog and NPI scores, increased cerebral perfusion and increased connectivity between the posterior cingulate cortex and lateral parietal nodes within the default-mode network in the PBM group. ^[15]

In 2021, researchers from the School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, discovered that measures of mobility, cognition, dynamic balance and fine motor skill were significantly improved with PBM treatment for 12 weeks and up to one year in a pilot study with 12 participants. Many individual improvements were above the minimal clinically important difference, the threshold judged to be meaningful for participants. Individual improvements varied but many continued for up to one year with sustained home treatment using the Vielight Neuro Gamma. There was a demonstrable Hawthorne Effect that was below the treatment effect. No side effects of the treatment were observed.

References

1. Jang, J. Y., Blum, A., Liu, J., & Finkel, T. (2018). The role of mitochondria in aging. The Journal of clinical investigation, 128(9), 3662–3670. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI120842
2. Dompe, C., Moncrieff, L., Matys, J., Grzech-Leśniak, K., Kocherova, I., Bryja, A., Bruska, M., Dominiak, M., Mozdziak, P., Skiba, T., Shibli, J. A., Angelova Volponi, A., Kempisty, B., & Dyszkiewicz-Konwińska, M. (2020). Photobiomodulation-Underlying Mechanism and Clinical Applications. Journal of clinical medicine, 9(6), 1724. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9061724
3. Suski, J. M., Lebiedzinska, M., Bonora, M., Pinton, P., Duszynski, J., & Wieckowski, M. R. (2012). Relation between mitochondrial membrane potential and ROS formation. In Mitochondrial bioenergetics (pp. 183-205). Humana Press.
4. Wang X., Tian F., Soni S.S., Gonzalez-Lima F., Liu H. Interplay between up-regulation of cytochrome-c-oxidase and hemoglobin oxygenation induced by near-infrared laser. Sci. Rep. 2016;6:30540. doi: 10.1038/srep30540.
5. Hamblin M.R. Photobiomodulation for traumatic brain injury and stroke. J. Neurosci. Res. 2018;96:731–743. doi: 10.1002/jnr.24190.
6. Cardoso FDS, Mansur FCB, Lopes-Martins RÁB, Gonzalez-Lima F, Gomes da Silva S. Transcranial Laser Photobiomodulation Improves Intracellular Signaling Linked to Cell Survival, Memory and Glucose Metabolism in the Aged Brain: A Preliminary Study. Front Cell Neurosci. 2021 Sep 3;15:683127. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2021.683127. PMID: 34539346; PMCID: PMC8446546.
7. Wang, X., Dmochowski, J. P., Zeng, L., Kallioniemi, E., Husain, M., GonzalezLima, F., & Liu, H. (2019). Transcranial photobiomodulation with 1064-nm laser modulates brain electroencephalogram rhythms. Neurophotonics, 6(2), 025013.
8. Vargas E, Barrett DW, Saucedo CL, et al. Beneficial neurocognitive effects of transcranial laser in older adults. Lasers in medical science. 2017;32(5):1153–1162. [PubMed: 28466195]
9. Chao LL. Effects of Home Photobiomodulation Treatments on Cognitive and Behavioral Function, Cerebral Perfusion, and Resting-State Functional Connectivity in Patients with Dementia: A Pilot Trial. Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg. 2019 Mar;37(3):133-141. doi: 10.1089/photob.2018.4555. Epub 2019 Feb 13. PMID: 31050950.
10. Hamblin MR. Mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation. AIMS Biophys. 2017;4(3):337-361. doi: 10.3934/biophy.2017.3.337. Epub 2017 May 19. PMID: 28748217; PMCID: PMC5523874.
11. dos Santos Cardoso, F., Mansur, F.C.B., Araújo, B.H.S. et al.Photobiomodulation Improves the Inflammatory Response and Intracellular Signaling Proteins Linked to Vascular Function and Cell Survival in the Brain of Aged Rats. Mol Neurobiol 59, 420–428 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-021-02606-4
12. Braz, I. D., & Fisher, J. P. (2016). The impact of age on cerebral perfusion, oxygenation and metabolism during exercise in humans. The Journal of physiology, 594(16), 4471–4483. https://doi.org/10.1113/JP271081
13. Vargas E, Barrett DW, Saucedo CL, Huang LD, Abraham JA, Tanaka H, Haley AP, Gonzalez-Lima F. Beneficial neurocognitive effects of transcranial laser in older adults. Lasers Med Sci. 2017 Jul;32(5):1153-1162. doi: 10.1007/s10103-017-2221-y. Epub 2017 May 2. PMID: 28466195; PMCID: PMC6802936.
14. Staelens Michael, Di Gregorio Elisabetta, Kalra Aarat P., Le Hoa T., Hosseinkhah Nazanin, Karimpoor Mahroo, Lim Lew, Tuszyński Jack A. Near-Infrared Photobiomodulation of Living Cells, Tubulin, and Microtubules In Vitro, Frontiers in Medical Technology 4. 2022 May 04, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmedt.2022.871196, ISBN:2673-3129
15. Chao LL. Effects of Home Photobiomodulation Treatments on Cognitive and Behavioral Function, Cerebral Perfusion, and Resting-State Functional Connectivity in Patients with Dementia: A Pilot Trial. Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg. 2019 Mar;37(3):133-141. doi: 10.1089/photob.2018.4555. Epub 2019 Feb 13. PMID: 31050950.
16. Liebert A, Bicknell B, Laakso EL, Heller G, Jalilitabaei P, Tilley S, Mitrofanis J, Kiat H. Improvements in clinical signs of Parkinson’s disease using photobiomodulation: a prospective proof-of-concept study. BMC Neurol. 2021 Jul 2;21(1):256. doi: 10.1186/s12883-021-02248-y. PMID: 34215216; PMCID: PMC8249215.
17. Sparkman NL, Johnson RW. Neuroinflammation associated with aging sensitizes the brain to the effects of infection or stress. Neuroimmunomodulation. 2008;15(4-6):323-30. doi: 10.1159/000156474. Epub 2008 Nov 26. PMID: 19047808; PMCID: PMC2704383.
18. Simen AA, Bordner KA, Martin MP, Moy LA, Barry LC. Cognitive dysfunction with aging and the role of inflammation. Ther Adv Chronic Dis. 2011 May;2(3):175-95. doi: 10.1177/2040622311399145. PMID: 23251749; PMCID: PMC3513880.
19. Yang T, Sun Y, Lu Z, Leak RK, Zhang F. The impact of cerebrovascular aging on vascular cognitive impairment and dementia. Ageing Res Rev. 2017 Mar;34:15-29. doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2016.09.007. Epub 2016 Sep 28. PMID: 27693240; PMCID: PMC5250548.
20. Salgado AS, Zângaro RA, Parreira RB, Kerppers II. The effects of transcranial LED therapy (TCLT) on cerebral blood flow in the elderly women. Lasers in medical science. 2015;30(1):339– 346. doi: 10.1007/s10103-014-1669-2 [PubMed: 25277249]
21. Yang T, Sun Y, Lu Z, Leak RK, Zhang F. The impact of cerebrovascular aging on vascular cognitive impairment and dementia. Ageing Res Rev. 2017 Mar;34:15-29. doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2016.09.007. Epub 2016 Sep 28. PMID: 27693240; PMCID: PMC5250548.

Introducing the X-Plus 3

Whether you are seeking to improve mental performance (brain photobiomodulation) or body resilience and functions (systemic photobiomodulation), the X-Plus 3 on its own or in combination with a Neuro model will go a long way to help you.

Our acute Covid-19 recovery study used a version of the X-Plus 3 for which the results were significantly positive.
You can read more about our acute Covid-19 recovery results here: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.06.16.22276503v1

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X-Plus 3 Components

The X-Plus 3 consists of 4 main modules: the X-Plus Head module, the X-Plus Body module, and 2 633nm X-Plus nasal applicators.

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The X-Plus Head Module

In everyday life and in sports, your visual processing ability, balance, and coordination is crucial. The X-Plus Head module sits comfortably on the occipital lobe and cerebellum, which are the areas of the brain that process these tasks.

The occipital lobe interprets information from the eyes and turns it into the world as a person sees it. It is responsible for visuospatial processing, distance, and depth perception. ^[1].

The cerebellum is another important structure of the brain.

Although the cerebellum accounts for approximately 10% of the brain’s volume, it contains over 50% of the total number of neurons in the brain. The cerebellum is involved in the following functions:

Maintenance of balance and posture. The cerebellum is important for making postural adjustments to maintain balance. It modulates commands to motor neurons to compensate for shifts in body position or changes in load upon muscles. ^[2]

Coordination of voluntary movements. Most movements are composed of different muscle groups acting together in a temporally coordinated fashion. One major function of the cerebellum is to coordinate the timing and force of these different muscle groups to produce fluid limb or body movements.[3]

Motor learning. The cerebellum is important for motor learning. The cerebellum plays a major role in adapting and fine-tuning motor programs to make accurate movements through a trial-and-error process (e.g. learning to hit a baseball or throwing a basketball accurately).^[4]

Combined, the cerebellum and occipital lobe account for much of the brain’s processing ability for movements required for physical performance. Now imagine the ability to stimulate these two brain structures to improve your everyday life and boost athletic and sports performance in a convenient manner without side effects.

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X-Plus Intranasal module

The nasal cavity is saturated with blood capillaries. Five major arteries connect directly to the circulatory system ^[5], making it the perfect location for systemic photobiomodulation.

The X-Plus 3 comes with two 633nm intranasal modules, enabling photobiomodulation of the blood capillary-rich nasal passageway. Additionally, our patented clip-on intranasal design enables usage almost anywhere and while on the move.

Why systemic circulation?

Intranasal photobiomodulation improves oxygenation and leads to increased adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels in various tissues. ^[6]

Light energy absorbed by blood through the photobiomodulation process leads to an increase in nitric oxide (NO) release.^[7]

Nitric oxide is one of the most important factors affecting microcirculation. This leads to increases in vasodilation which contributes to improved oxygen delivery to tissues , which is important for optimizing your health and sports performance.

The result of light-induced photodissociation of oxyhemoglobin also results in a significant enrichment of local tissue oxygenation. ^[8]

The systemic effect of photobiomodulation on circulation could be a consequence of positive alterations in the membrane properties of red blood cells (RBCs). Absorption of red/NIR light affects hydrogen bonds, which could induce structural changes in RBC membrane proteins. ^[9]

This in turn, results in an improvement of RBC structure, ATP content, and osmotic properties. ^[10]

Conclusively, the X-Plus 3 intranasal modules are powerful tools for internalizing photobiomodulation into your circulatory system.

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The X-Plus Body module

We hypothesize that the X-Plus Body module could potentially help with the immune system when positioned on the sternum. A version of this has been used in our clinical trial to treat COVID-19, and the findings will be made public soon.

Preprint of Results: Link

Additionally, the X-Plus Body module can be positioned over joints and certain body parts, such as the shoulder or knees to provide anti-inflammatory relief.

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Conclusion

The X-Plus 3 is a useful device for improving anyone’s quality of life, but an especially powerful tool for athletes and biohackers to maximize performance. In a competitive world where the smallest difference in mental and physical performance can mean either first place or everything else after, the X-Plus 3 is a powerful tool to try.

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References

[1] – Rehman A, Al Khalili Y. Neuroanatomy, Occipital Lobe. [Updated 2021 Jul 31]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK544320/

[2, 3, 4] – Cerebellum (section 3, Chapter 5) neuroscience online: An electronic textbook for the Neurosciences: Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy – the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. Cerebellum (Section 3, Chapter 5) Neuroscience Online: An Electronic Textbook for the Neurosciences | Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy – The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. (n.d.). Retrieved February 20, 2022, from https://nba.uth.tmc.edu/neuroscience/m/s3/chapter05.html#:~:text=The%20cerebellum%20is%20important%20for,in%20order%20to%20maintain%20balance.&text=One%20major%20function%20of%20the,is%20important%20for%20motor%20learning.

[5] – Nguyen JD, Duong H. Anatomy, Head and Neck, Lateral Nasal Artery. [Updated 2021 Nov 21]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546681/

[6], [7] – Lohr NL, Keszler A, Pratt P, Bienengraber M, Warltier DC, Hogg N. Enhancement of nitric oxide release from nitrosyl hemoglobin and nitrosyl myoglobin by red/near infrared radiation: potential role in cardioprotection. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2009 Aug;47(2):256-63. doi: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2009.03.009. Epub 2009 Mar 25. PMID: 19328206; PMCID: PMC4329292.

[8] – Stadler I, Evans R, Kolb B, Naim JO, Narayan V, Buehner N, Lanzafame RJ. In vitro effects of low-level laser irradiation at 660 nm on peripheral blood lymphocytes. Lasers Surg Med. 2000;27(3):255-61. doi: 10.1002/1096-9101(2000)27:3<255::aid-lsm7>3.0.co;2-l. PMID: 11013387.

[9] – Szymborska-Małek K, Komorowska M, Gąsior-Głogowska M. Effects of Near Infrared Radiation on DNA. DLS and ATR-FTIR Study. Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc. 2018 Jan 5;188:258-267. doi: 10.1016/j.saa.2017.07.004. Epub 2017 Jul 12. PMID: 28723592.

[10] – Walski T, Dyrda A, Dzik M, Chludzińska L, Tomków T, Mehl J, Detyna J, Gałecka K, Witkiewicz W, Komorowska M. Near infrared light induces post-translational modifications of human red blood cell proteins. Photochem Photobiol Sci. 2015 Nov;14(11):2035-45. doi: 10.1039/c5pp00203f. PMID: 26329012.

Personal wellness has become a very hot subject over the last decade. The majority of interest in this subject area is focused on physical wellness, mostly of the body. Thankfully, more and more people are realizing the importance of brain wellness. There is a growing interest in maintaining a healthy brain and cognitive “sharpness.”  The latter refers to mental or cognitive acuity.

Thus, there is more and more buzz about such subjects as cognitive or mental acuity. Brain performance, cognitive vitality and general brain wellness are becoming more commonplace subjects of interest to larger audiences. What used to be the domain of biohackers is rapidly moving into mainstream.

Everyone likes to feel good and to be sharp. Maintaining healthy brain function is imperative, if you’re going to remain competitive and competent in the workplace, business, sports and creative endeavors. It is no less important in personal aspects of life and in supporting good quality of life overall. If you want to be sharp, you need to take care of your cognitive acuity.

What is Mental Acuity, or is it Cognitive Acuity? (Potato — Pot[a]to)

The terms mental acuity and cognitive acuity refer to the same functions and abilities of the human brain. Therefore, they are two different ways to name the same thing. While mental acuity is a more commonly used term, cognitive acuity is the preferred term in the scientific community.

Cognitive or mental acuity is one of those terms that everyone seems to understand, but few really know what it actually means. So, what exactly is cognitive acuity? Let’s shed some light on this subject and define it.

If you were to search for “cognitive acuity” on Google, you would quickly notice that there isn’t a great deal of information available on the subject. That’s because cognitive acuity isn’t a thing in and of itself. Instead, it’s a cluster of mental processes that we, as humans, rely on for optimal brain function and performance. Consequently, cognitive acuity refers to the following brain functions:

Information processing

Memory storage

Attention

Situational judgement

Information Processing

Your brain’s capacity to process information is its most important function. The brain has the ability to store, manipulate, and record information that you gather from your environment. You need to be able to sort through all that information in order to make sound and logical decisions with speed and accuracy. (Loftus, G. 2019. Human Memory: The Processing of Information). This process of “sorting” is called information processing and is a major factor contributing to cognitive acuity.

Memory Storage

Your ability to store memories is directly related to your ability to process sensory information. In your everyday life, you are constantly bombarded by various forms of information. You have a great deal of visual information coming in, along with auditory and sensory information (touch, taste, and smell).

Your brain needs to discern which information is relevant and important, and which information should be ignored. Relevant information is further processed into memories, and that isn’t an easy process. Memory storage, whether it’s short-term or long-term memory, is fraught with problems.

Recording and storing memories depends on our capacity to process information quickly and accurately. All information processing in a human brain is fallible to a certain extent. Inevitably, some information gets lost or distorted, as it is coded into a memory. Efficient memory storage relies on sound information processing and on an efficient attentional system. (Loftus, G. 2019. Human Memory: The Processing of Information).

Attention

Attention is the brain’s ability to focus on one task or a single sensory stimulus. More importantly, the brain does it despite the presence of other sensory stimuli competing for your attention. The ability to pick out one thing from your environment and apply concentrated focus to it is a special ability. It is also an ability that can be improved with training.

Most people find it hard to do two things at the same time. Dividing your attention can lead to performance errors and faulty memory coding. To enhance cognitive acuity, it’s best to avoid distractions and practice focused attention. Such practice will improve your brain’s information processing and allow you to have more effective situational judgement: a skill that is crucial for problem solving. (Pashler, H. 2016. Attentional Limitations in Dual-task Performance).

Situational Judgement

According to Peter Leeds, a Behavioral Scientist from the University of Baltimore, effective cognitive or mental acuity plays a direct role in our ability to detect the correct response in any given situation. Making sound decisions that have optimal outcomes is a very important and desired skill. The capacity to make sound decisions depends upon the ability to pay attention to the sensory information coming in and judging how to choose the right response.

Situational judgement is particularly important in fast-paced environments, where split-second decision making is required. This quality relies on the other skills associated with cognitive acuity, specifically, information processing, memory, and attention, as discussed above. (Leeds, P. 2017. Behavior Research Methods).

Speed and accuracy of the brain response and information processing
as a measure of cognitive or mental acuity

To reiterate, cognitive or mental acuity is effectively a measure of the brain’s ability to respond to a stimulus. It accounts for the speed of a response and the quality and relevance of the response. Oftentimes, such measures of response are defined in layman terms as the “sharpness” of the human mind.

To assess an individual’s state of cognitive acuity, one would need to measure the speed of the individual’s brain responses. This can be done on biochemical and biophysical levels, which are very complex processes.

Alternatively, the speed of the brain response can be measured by cognitive tests. These specialized tests examine a number of factors relevant to cognitive or mental acuity. More specifically, these factors can be broken down to responses associated with cognitive focus and concentration, memory, and understanding. In measuring these four categories, it is possible to assess how well the brain performs relative to a benchmark or a baseline.

The sharpness of mind — the speed and the quality of brain responses

We can break down these factors further and add clarity to the definitions, as well as to the subject mater itself. Let’s take a look at what constitutes the speed and the quality of responses, as well as the sharpness of the mind.

It is important to note that cognitive or mental acuity can have an effect on intellectual abilities of an individual. However, although it can affect one’s ability to retrieve knowledge, it does not constitute a measure of one’s intellectual capacity. In more simple terms, the assessment of your mental acuity does not measure how smart you are.

Mental acuity and intellectual capacity: crystalized and fluid intelligence

Thus, cognitive acuity has to do with some of the aspects of brain’s physiological functions affecting fluid intelligence. Fluid intelligence refers to the ability to reason and think flexibly, and to solve problems. Information processing and situational judgement are the factors that support this category.

Mental acuity has less to do with longer-term intellectual capacity, although it can influence crystalized intelligence. Crystallized intelligence refers to the accumulation of knowledge, facts, and skills that are acquired throughout life and the ability to recall and use that knowledge. Memory storage, as discussed earlier, is a relevant factor for this category.

How do benchmarks and baselines help to measure cognitive acuity?

Benchmarks themselves can represent the brain’s capacity to perform a specific task in a given state. For example, there are benchmarks to help estimate cognitive acuity of a healthy brain. Other benchmarks allow assessment of the current state of individual’s mental acuity based on the brain with abnormal functions.

Such abnormalities can range from very mild, to heavily pronounced or severe. The former can occur when a person is tired, for example. The latter can be seen in individuals with complex neurodegenerative disorders. People with neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias, score very poorly on cognitive acuity tests. As a result, the more progressed the disease is, the lower is the score on the cognitive acuity test.

Fluctuations in cognitive acuity and cognitive vitality

Individuals with healthy brains can experience drops in the levels of their cognitive acuity. This can happen due to exhaustion, fatigue, stress or illness, among other factors. Such fluctuations in cognitive acuity can be recorded reasonably easily by way of analysis using standardised testing and personal benchmarking.

The records of such analysis can help individuals to better understand what leads to declines in their cognitive acuity. Knowing the cause can help to eliminate or avoid it. If neither is possible, one can elect a therapy to remedy the effects of such cause on the brain and on cognitive acuity.

What is important in assessing cognitive acuity and cognitive vitality?

The reason benchmarks and baselines are important is because they help to assess an individual’s cognitive acuity based on relevant criteria. Numerous factors can be of consideration in establishing the appropriateness of cognitive acuity tests. Thus, age, level of physical fitness and activity, diet and other lifestyle factors can influence cognitive (mental) acuity.

For example, it would make little sense to assess the normal state of mental acuity of an average sixty-year-old and an average sixteen-year-old based on exactly the same criteria. However, some criteria can and will overlap in different age groups, although, the expected performance benchmarks will be different.

How does age affect cognitive acuity?

Studies and empirical data show that, on average, an individual adult’s cognitive acuity deteriorates with age. Notably, numerous factors like lifestyle and diet, fitness and general health can contribute to fluctuations, changes and declines in cognitive acuity.

On average, as is the case with all organs, the brain’s ability to perform its tasks and duties usually deteriorates over time. Therefore, older people are more susceptible to deficiencies in cognitive acuity. Manifestations of such deficiencies can include forgetfulness, decreasing ability to focus and more.

Many of you have heard or even used the phrase, “I am not as sharp as I used to be.” It is a colloquial expression that often refers to a recognition of a decline in mental acuity with age. Importantly, it points to the fact that an individual is capable of recognizing such a decline on his or her own.

What factors contribute to a decline in cognitive acuity?

Numerous factors can contribute to a decline in mental acuity. Among them are environmental factors, lifestyle factors, circadian rhythm factors, factors related to blood oxygenation and blood circulation, genetic factors, and drug-related factors.

Environmental factors

The factors affecting cognitive acuity and cognitive vitality can be environmental, like air and water quality, and exposure to sunlight. Numerous studies support this hypothesis.

Lifestyle factors

The factors affecting cognitive acuity can be personal lifestyle-related factors like physical activity, diet, education, professional and leisure activities.

Duration and quality of sleep also contribute to cognitive acuity and cognitive vitality. The actual effect of lifestyle factors on cognitive vitality remains a subject of ongoing studies and debates. (Arthur F. Kramer et al, 2004, Environmental Influences on Cognitive and Brain Plasticity During Aging).

Blood circulation and blood oxygenation effects on mental acuity

Poor blood circulation and blood oxygenation can be contributing factors to declines in cognitive (mental) acuity. They can also be effects of an unhealthy lifestyle and poor dietary choices. If you are concerned with your blood circulation and blood oxygenation, it may be a good time to reassess your lifestyle. You can make healthier choices and pay more careful attention to your physical activity routine and your diet.

Circadian rhythms factors

Activity-rest patterns and circadian rhythms can contribute to the variations in mental acuity. Circadian rhythms are regulatory cycles in the brain. They manage your alertness and sleepiness on 24-hour cycles. Your brain will react to changes in the environment based on this 24-hour circadian rhythm cycle. This is a very important and complex regulatory mechanism that developed in mammals over a long period of time.

If your circadian rhythm is off, it may not trigger timely and appropriate responses to the environmental changes from your brain. Thus, you may suffer from insufficient sleep and poor physical recovery, further inhibiting your mental acuity.

Genetic factors

Moreover, genetic factors can play an important role in changes in cognitive or mental acuity and cognitive vitality. If you have dementia or neurodegenerative diseases somewhere in your family tree, you may be more susceptible to such disorders. It is hardly possible to change genetic predispositions, at least at this point in time. However, healthy lifestyle choices may help to decrease the probability of or postpone the onset of neurological disorders.

Drugs related factors

As well, some drugs, both medical and illegal, can be contributors to your mental acuity decline. Various illegal drags can have detrimental effects on your brain’s ability to function normally, and, therefore, on your mental acuity.

Unfortunately, some prescription medications can also have negative effects on your mental acuity. Most commonly, these could occur as side effects of a medication. It is prudent to speak to your physician about the possible side effects and dangers of the medications that you are taking. You can also inquire about remedies to help to mitigate such side effects.

Curiously, some of the contributing factors can also be those that can help to mitigate the changes in mental acuity. This can be possible because an individual can make changes to some of those factors. For example, you can improve your diet, sleep more, exercise better, and the list goes on. These facts have prompted growth of new movements that advocate and promote healthy and natural wellness choices. Biohacking is one of them, and it is gaining popularity worldwide.

New Neuro Modulation Technology Can Help to Improve Mental Acuity

As attention to brain wellness and mental acuity has grown, so has innovation in the space of brain wellness technology. Creative minds in science and technology are cooperating to develop new tools to help you take better care of your brain. Non-invasive neuro modulation is one area of such research and cooperation, and improving mental acuity is one of its goals.

Creative new technologies utilize light, sound, electromagnetic energy and visual stimuli to stimulate your brain. Moreover, new wearable and smart devices can help train your brain and to improve your mental acuity. Some of them are non-invasive and have no side effects. This is only the beginning of a new era of personal neuro-modulation technology for home use. Stay tuned for more.

 

“Photo-Neuro-Hacking” is here!

Vielight with its photobiomodulation (PBM) technology, has been the subject of growing interest in the field of biohacking of the brain. The delivery of light to influence brain functions is appealing to many biohackers. Not surprisingly, most are seeking ways to achieve that in an uncomplicated and affordable way, without the risk of known side effects. For these reasons, Vielight’s method of delivering light to the brain in a non-invasive way is garnering great interest and support from clinicians, researchers and consumers. This is reflected in growing online and offline forums and discussions. The subjects of discussions and interest are the many possibilities of using Vielight devices for applications that have been considered difficult to achieve.

The recent Biohacker Summit 2019, held in Helsinki, Finland, on 1 and 2 of November 2019, manifested what excites biohackers. Notably, a big excitement was about the novel approach of the application and use of PBM by Vielight. Thus, the presence of Vielight among the exhibitors created a lively buzz in the air. Not surprisingly, there also was a very dynamic stream of visitors to our busy booth. Many visitors were turning up at the booth due to the word-of-mouth recommendations by users of Vielight devices. Interestingly, many visitors were meditators of various levels who were curious about improving their meditative experiences. As a result, the interest grew much bigger after the Vielight Founder & CEO, Dr. Lew Lim made a stage presentation entitled “Elevating Brain Performance with Light”.

How Photobiomodulation Influences Body and Brain Functions?

According to Dr. Lim, “Published research has shown that photobiomodulation (PBM) has clear influence on body and brain functions. The influence of PBM is significant – all the way from cell activity to high level performance outcomes. We continue to learn from these research results and extend the theories to their effects on humans by supporting clinical trials.

Evidently, biohackers now recognize that evidence clearly shows that the brain responds to PBM, if it is delivered to the brain in the right way. In this regard, we published data to show the effects of pulsing light of 40 Hz (Gamma), when it is applied to the brain. The light causes elevation of the power of alpha, beta and gamma oscillations and reduction of the power of the slow delta and theta. Alternatively, when we induce 10 Hz (Alpha) pulsation, significant response is largely observed in the alpha band. Overall, these findings show that the brain can respond differently to different pulse rates.

Consequently, Vielight has plans for further investigation in brain response. One day, we will be able to individualize intervention, so that the brain will be given the best boost for optimal function via PBM. Now, that would be a biohacker’s dream.”

Vielight Returns to TransTech 2019

The TransTech Conference 2019 will be held again on November 15-16, 2019 at Palo Alto, California. It is a conference where futuristic ideas in transformative technologies are exchanged. This is an area that Vielight identifies with. Dr. Lew Lim will be speaking on “Brain Photobiomodulation Advances”. He will update the attendees on the state of PBM as a brain stimulation and modulation method. Importantly, Vielight will also have a booth where attendees are welcome to visit and learn more about the Vielight devices. Furthermore, visitors will have the opportunity to speak with Vielight researchers, Dr. Alison Smith and Dr. Mahta Karimpoor, and experience the devices.

 

Vielight Makes its Presence in Europe at MEDICA

For the first time, Vielight will be exhibiting at the MEDICA Trade Show in Dusseldorf, Germany. The event will be held on November 18-21, 2019. Most notably, MEDICA is the largest medical product and services trade show in the world. This year more than 125,000 visitors and more than 5,000 exhibitors are expected. There has been a growing interest in Vielight devices in Europe. Thus, Vielight product experts, Gennady Lemud and Dominic Lim, are looking forward to introducing our products at the Vielight booth G40 at Hall 13.

Dr. Lew Lim to Speak in Perth, Western Australia

Dr. Lew Lim will be giving a talk in Perth, Australia at a special event, on November 26^th 2019, from 11 am to 2 pm, at the Institute of Functional Neuroscience. His talk is titled “Photobiomodulation for Extraordinary Brain Functions”. Further information about the talk can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/events/1762789687199309/. Dr. Lim explains, “We are unearthing new information on how extraordinary brain functions can be achieved with light. I hope to share our experiences and research and to make this event a very rewarding one for attendees.”

Continuing Efforts and Findings in PBM Research

On March 21, 2019, pharmaceutical giants Biogen and Eisai announced they were discontinuing their much-anticipated clinical trial. It was the final phase of one of the most promising Alzheimer’s Disease drugs under trials, aducanumab. This announcement was heart-breaking for those who had been holding out for it. There is no other promising drug entering late-phase trials for the next few years.

Another blow to the search for a cure for Alzheimer was made on March 27, 2019. A special advisory panel appointed by the FDA unanimously rejected Neuronix’s non-pharmaceutical effort. It involved a combination of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and brain training to treat Alzheimer.
So, is there any hope for the millions of Alzheimer’s sufferers?

Beneath the Noise

Beneath the noise and conundrum, Vielight has been quietly developing a novel solution with the Vielight Neuro RX Gamma. Just recently, in March 2019, the journal, Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine and Laser Surgery published landmark findings by the University of California at San Francisco’s Linda Chao. Prof. Chao’s controlled study reported significant cognitive improvements in dementia patients. Furthermore, for the first time, clear improvements in blood perfusion and functional connectivity were shown by fMRI imaging. Her paper, “Effects of Home Photobiomodulation Treatments on Cognitive and Behavioral Functions, Cerebral Perfusion, and Resting State Functional Connectivity in Patients with Dementia: A Pilot Study” is a validation of a paper published earlier, “Significant Improvement in Cognition in Mild to Moderately Severe Dementia Cases Treated with Transcranial Plus Intranasal Photobiomodulation: Case Series Report” (Saltmarche et al, 2017).

The significance of the recovery observed in the human subjects in these studies were unprecedented. Vielight is now heading towards the second phase of a pilot study, and this month, expect to start a multi-site pivotal study in an attempt to validate these findings.

A Light in the Dark Tunnel of Alzheimer’s Research

“It is a single intervention with multiple pathways in its mechanisms, equivalent to many drugs working at the same time. The Vielight Neuro RX Gamma fires up the body’s natural intelligence to restore systemic homeostasis — a process that corrects functional aberrances that may have caused this disease.”

There is now a light at the end of the dark tunnel of Alzheimer research. “The field of Alzheimer research is a graveyard of high-profile failures, flooring some of the biggest pharmaceutical companies and many great scientific minds in medical research,” reflects Dr. Lew Lim, Founder & CEO of Vielight. “Because we are a small company in this field taking on a goliath-sized task, it is understandable why our efforts have not been accorded the widespread recognition. However, finding a solution may not require hundreds of millions of dollars. What matters is hard reproducible scientific evidence. It could come from a new modality with a different theoretical basis — photobiomodulation as delivered by Vielight. It is a single intervention with multiple pathways in its mechanisms, equivalent to many drugs working at the same time. The Vielight Neuro RX Gamma fires up the body’s natural intelligence to restore systemic homeostasis — a process that corrects functional aberrances that may have caused this disease.”

Vielight to Participate in the Paleo f(x) 2019
International Conference and Expo

Paleo f(x) 2019 is a large biohacking event taking place in Austin, Texas from April 26 to 28. It is also the world largest gathering of Paleo, ancestral health, keto, functional medicine and strength and conditioning experts.

Attendees can find Vielight at the booth #7. There they can learn about the potential of Vielight tech for improving the functions of the brain and the body. Using photobiomodulation, the Vielight technology offers a safe, simple and non-invasive way for improvement in general wellness.

Vielight to Present at the BFE Conference

For the first time, Vielight will showcase its technology at the Biofeedback Federation of Europe (BFE) annual conference. The BFE takes place from April 9 to 13 in Cardiff, Wales, U.K. Dr. Lew Lim is a speaker at the Photobiomodulation Symposium and will present on April 11 from 17:45 to 18:15. His presentation is titled “New Discoveries in Transcranial Photobiomodulation for Neurofeedback”. Among other speakers are Dr. Margaret Naeser, Research Professor of Neurology at Boston University, and Penijean Gracefire, an innovation leader in neurofeedback.

“This is the first time that photobiomodulation is featured in a biofeedback or neurofeedback conference,” said Dr. Lew Lim. “The recognition reflects the growing interest in this science. Particularly of importance is how it can profoundly accelerate the desired outcomes in neurofeedback treatments. Attendees at the conference may go home with new ideas on how to help their patients and themselves better.”

Vielight will also be demonstrating real-time brain response through the manipulation of the parameters using the Neuro Pro device prototype.

Our photobiomodulation technology was featured as a biohacking tool in an article on PCMag, a well-established resource for the latest news in the tech world. The author is S. C. Stuart is an award-winning digital strategist and technology commentator for ELLE China, Esquire Latino, Singularity Hub, and PCMag, covering: artificial intelligence; augmented, virtual, and mixed reality; DARPA; NASA; US Army Cyber Command; sci-fi in Hollywood.

The article is titled “Can Brain-Machine Interfaces Put You In A Better Mood?”. Read it here – Link