There is growing recognition and subsequent real concern about the number of young people who are now reporting diminished cognitive functioning after having been infected with COVID 19. These reports are from those with severe to asymptomatic experiences of acute infection and the chronic symptoms have surfaced sometimes months post recovery. Our view is that the global neuroinflammatory and thrombotic effects are key drivers for long COVID neurological symptoms and that 1070nm transcranial photobiomodulation (TPBM) can offer a method for symptom mitigation. 

Quietmind and Neuronic Devices Ltd. (neuronic.online) are collaborating with our colleagues at Durham Univ. and the Univ. of Texas-Arlington to study the variable impact of the Neuradiant 1070 4Q device ​on infectivity, virulence and post infection neuropsychological and neurophysiological symptoms. 

www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.06.07.22276020v1.full

This report involves the recognition of Aβ42, a protein that function as as a neurotoxin and now attributed to the development of Alzheimer's disease 

Key Takeaways

• Measurement of the rate of cellular amyloid uptake and metabolic production of toxic amyloid species could be used as novel biomarkers for early and/or differential diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
  
• Estimated beta-amyloid (Aβ42) cellular uptake can be more than two times greater in AD patients compared to cognitively normal subjects. A less pronounced yet increased uptake rate was also observed in patients with late-onset mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
  
• This increased uptake may prove to be a key mechanism defining age-related AD progression.
  
• ​The increased cellular amyloid uptake in AD and LMCI may lead to quicker disease progression, but early-onset MCI may result from increased production of toxic amyloid metabolites.​

Of particular relevance is that the Aβ42 protein was shown to be significantly reduced in animal trials involving 1072nm photobiomodulation by researchers at Durham University. (Grillo, 2013) showed that this particular protein along with several others were reduce in the animals that showed improved cognitive and behavioral functioning after a trial of light stimulation. This is the same wavelength of light being used in the Neuradiant 1070 4Q transcranial photobiomodulation technology available now through Neuronic Devices Ltd. (neuronic.online) 


(Grillo SL, Duggett NA, Ennaceur A, Chazot PL (2013). Non-invasive infra-red therapy (1072nm) reduces β-amyloid protein levels in the brain of an Alzheimer’s disease mouse model, TASTPM. J Photochem Photobiology B Biology, 123:13–22.)

Full article here: www.medscape.com/viewarticle/

a large study just released shows that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGllCdXGfSqVnvHjFmcFJQcJBjv?

I wanted to add a note here by way of background to understand how I think about neuromodulation and its relationship to psychotherapy and the healing process. I practiced as a psychotherapist for many years before becoming a psychologist in 1999. It then became clear by 2010 that the bulk of my clinical work would not fit within the scope of practice of Psychology. I found that psychoneurophysiology is a better term for what I was doing given the use of neurofeedback, photic and electromagnetic stimulation that then was combined with Bioenergetic Therapy (see link below). I offer this by way of explaining my theoretical and clinical perspective on treatment which leans heavily on  neo-Reichian, general systems and psychodynamic theory and now digital neurotherapeutics and photobiomodulation.

Much of my focus is on larger systemic (interpersonal, group-as-a-whole, socio-cultural) factors and how those dynamics influence activity at the individual (person system) level. I use the idea of character armoring as it was defined by Reich and Lowen to capture the expression of trauma as it manifests physically as specific patterns of chronic muscular tension. These patterns then influence the other structive elements, e.g., fascial and neurodevelopmental maturation. All the pieces are connected as the old song taught us. 

I recognized that the isomorphic pattern of contraction and expansion that defined character armor also manifested in the neurophysiological level as constrained dominant frequency activity that could be observed in the patterned behavior of the dominant EEG activity both in terms of absolute range of manifest frequency and variability within the range. Now its clear that we can use this way of understanding the flow of energy in the body to support healing using the noninvasive tools of photobiomodulation and functional medicine. The emotional/psychological aspects of healing can be best addressed using body-centered techniques that can help people unlock and express their full potential. It is very gratifying to me to see how all the pieces fit together and to then be able to help others learn as well. Some see these principles now as 'biohacks' and that doesn't really get at the heuristic quality but then heuristics aren't what they used to be along with pretty much everything else.

For a quick outline of Bioenergetics
​www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/types/bioenergetic-analysis

This is a review paper that explores the uses of light therapy in treating depression, anxiety and Cognitive challenges especially among the elderly where effective treatment options are limited and often creating more problems than they solve. PBM is described as possibly 'filing a gap in areas where more mainstream interventions do not help to directly alleviate the highly negative impact of various forms of persistent anxiety, which often accompanies depression, nor pathways inducing associated feelings of sadness, helplessness, loss of interest in self-care as well as pleasure in daily activities in a practical as well as possibly in an observable functional and neural context.'

I have said for many years when I worked as a body-centered psychotherapist that what is often diagnosed as depression is more often the resulting state of chronic anxiety. The application of PBM has been shown to help elevate mood and provide people with more physical and emotional energy. The paper's author Ray Marks, commented on this in saying, "For vulnerable older adults who cannot exercise readily and do not respond favorably to antidepressant medications, it appears that non-thermal non-invasive applications of visible or near infrared light transcranial neuro-stimulation may be able to stimulate or inhibit targeted biological cells and tissues that undermine emotional health via a reproducible photochemical mechanism."

It is encouraging to see faculty from within elite schools within educational research community coming beginning to view PBM's potential as a resource for remediation of the serious neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative conditions in the elderly. I hope they will soon look down the telescope the other way and apply this insight to the children in our society who're needing relief from the overwhelming anxiety and resultant depression wrought by living in this era of endemic gun violence and pandemic-induced terror. The tools are available now to provide safe, reliable, low-cost, easily deployed help to our children and older adults. 

The Daily Mail today published a brief article describing a new research report that appeared yesterday in the research journal Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine and Laser Surgery. The report documents the effectiveness of brief intensive transcranial light stimulation using near infrared light at 1065-1080nm. The results with a cohort of normal subjects showed that the group receiving active treatment improved on measures of memory, motor functioning and processing speed. This supports the findings of the recently published report by Baylor Research Institute and Quietmind Foundation on the use of this same device with 100 subjects diagnosed with Alzheimer's and some also with Parkinson's disease. The results in both trials were very similar and quite encouraging. Further studies are needed to refine the treatment method for different clinical groups. The Cognitolite device is now available through Quietmind Foundation as well as the Neuradiant 1070 device now available through Neuronic Devices Ltd. (neuronic.online) that uses the 1070nm frequency and also allows for independent control of stimulation location, pulse frequency, duration and intensity. This unit is designed to provide both remediation, cognitive enhancement and protection against further injury.
​

New research from Univ. of Virginia Brain Immunology and Glia lab is showing how microglia influences cortical perfusion by controlling expansion and contraction of capillaries. This important finding supports previously reported findings on how transcranial photobiomodulation (PBM) could effect] cortical perfusion. In the study conducted at Quietmind Fdn., researchers used near infrared spectroscopy to measure the change in perfusion volume at the cortex surface from repeated, brief exposure to 1070nm pulsed PBM. Further, recent investigations have now shown how this type of therapeutic application of PBM can improve both cognitive, mood and motor functioning in people diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment and mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. 

 Devices based on these findings are now available under clinical supervision through Quietmind Foundation. Inquiries should be directed to Marvin Berman PhD 610-940-0488 

Read the UVA article here.