There are roughly 7 million people worldwide who suffer from Parkinson’s disease. (1) At the moment there is no known cure, however there may be some practices that could serve to suppress symptom expression. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease behind Alzheimer’s. (1)
Given the extensive list of public figures who have lived with and died from PD, there has been an enormous amount of time and money put into research to discover the cause, possible treatment, and even cure of this frightening disease. While there remains no specific cure, there are several treatment options that may slow down the progression of the disease and minimize symptom expression.
There are an array of pharmacological options to treat symptom expression in cases of PD. Also there are several less invasive approaches that have been well researched to dilute the intensity of disease expression, and even to address the root issues of neuronal death in the base region of the brain responsible for many aspects of this disease.
One such approach is thermal therapy with an emphasis on sauna use. Heat therapy in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease has been well researched, documented, and carries a significant positive weight as a very real means of treatment. The incredible ballad of physiological transformations that occur in response to heat stress by the human body is remarkable. The bilateral result of biochemical changes necessary to regulate internal temperature when under heat stress is the release of hormones, neurotransmitters, and molecules that serve to repress symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. (2)
In addition to the ground breaking discoveries surrounding heat and Parkinson’s, there has also been positive data collected surrounding the impact of long wavelength light therapy both on disease expression, as well as on neuronal health. (3)
This article will explore the basic neurological degeneration that occurs in cases of Parkinson’s disease as well as the light therapy treatment known as photobiomodulation, and its impact on PD remission.
What is Parkinson’s Disease?
Parkinson’s disease can be a highly debilitating illness that slowly degrades the physical movement of the body, as well as cognitive function. (3) PD is often considered a movement disorder as its most obvious expression is in the motor skills of its patients. The reality is that Parkinson’s disease is a disorder of a very specific part of the brain called the nigra. (3) This part of the brain is responsible for the creation of dopaminergic neurons. Very few individuals associate dopamine with fine motor skills; however, the reality is that dopamine does more than excite the body in anticipation of a thrilling event, it also allows for the expression of smooth and deliberate body movements. (4)
A 2024 study published by the National Library of Medicine entitled ‘Neuroanatomy, Substantia Nigra’ (5) describes the fundamental role that dopamine plays in Parkinson’s disease when the authors write this declarative statement.
“A loss of the dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra leads to Parkinson disease” (5)
Those living with PD have on average 60-80 % less dopamine than their comparative counterparts. This means that Parkinson’s disease is largely the result of a lack of dopamine. Why is this the case? It is because whatever causes PD kills off the neurons in the part of the brain where dopamine is created. The neuronal death happens at such a rapid rate that the result is devastating to dopamine production, and ultimately the ability to create specific movements of the body. (4)
So, a major question that arises is this: How can someone living with PD increase the presence of neurons responsible for creating the neurotransmitter dopamine?
One such answer may surprise you, but the data is in and the research is exhaustive. Exposure to specific light frequencies can actually improve neurogenesis (the creation of new brain cells), thereby balancing out the disparity between neuronal death and birth. (1)
The specific light frequencies are red and infrared light combined together to create a physical transformation called photobiomodulation. What exactly is photobiomodulation (PMB), and how can it positively affect cases of Parkinson’s disease?
What is Photobiomodulation?
The concept of photobiomodulation (PMB) was accidentally discovered in 1967 by a gentleman by the name of Endre Mester from Hungary. (3) Mester was actually attempting to replicate an earlier experiment performed in the United States. His only ‘mistake’ was that he used a less powerful ‘laser’. While Mester was attempting to cure a tumor in a lab rodent he found that his ‘ruby laser’ caused wound healing, and hair regrowth in the rodent, although it did not kill the tumor given the lack of ‘power’ in the light that he used. (3)
Mester originally called the effect of red and near infrared light therapy ‘laser biostimulation’, and while the name did not last, the basic method did. Given that the combination of red and near infrared light frequency was strong enough to induce cellular regrowth, but not so strong as to burn a hole through the flesh, the news was altogether very exciting for the scientific community. Eventually renamed photobiomodulation, this process at its essence is a photochemical response in the body. (3)
In June of 2023 a very special research paper was published entitled: ‘The Beneficial Role of Photobiomodulation in Neurodegenerative Diseases’ (3) by the National Library of Medicine and its authors describe the very detailed process of photobiomodulation here.
“…Photobiomodulation involves the application of light for therapeutic purposes…Therapeutically, light in the red to near infrared spectrum is used in this practice…An underlying photochemical mechanism provides support for the PBM. The most common wavelength used for this purpose is between 650 and 1200 nm.” (3)
This range of the light spectrum frequency is relevant because it is most easily absorbed by the cellular chromophores (a molecule within the cell responsible for absorbing specific light frequencies). (4)
The authors of the aforementioned article write this in reference to this particular band of light frequency:
“…According to the first law of photobiology, for any photochemical reaction to take place within a biological tissue, the absorption bands of the chromophores present within the tissue must be able to absorb photons.” (3)
The absorption of red and near infrared light is easily absorbed by the chromophores, but the really exciting action takes place in the mitochondria of the cell. Most humans did not know that when red and near infrared light were absorbed by the chromophores that this photo-energy could be transmuted into usable energy for the body known as ATP! This profoundly impacts the life death cycle of cells.
This is where the topic of photobiomodulation becomes very juicy for Parkinson’s disease treatment. PMB can alter the rate at which cells die by influencing mitochondrial function. (3) Here is what the experts write surrounding PBM and mitochondrial function.
“The role PBM plays in the mitochondria has brought it to the forefront as a potential therapeutic candidate in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, which are currently incurable due to their complex and multifaceted nature.” (3)
So, how exactly can a light frequency help in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease? Let us dive a little deeper in the next section.
How Does Photobiomodulation Aid in Cases of Parkinson’s Disease?
Anyone who has been touched by the effects of Parkinson’s disease knows the absolute tragedy of this neurodegenerative disorder. Also no pharmaceutical has successfully, without serious side effects, found even marginal levels of remission for this illness. This sad reality has spurred on research to find better, and more effective treatments for PD that actually address the root issue of loss of dopamine due to neuronal death.
Researchers, from the same study mentioned above, proclaim the necessity to find alternative treatments for Parkinson’s disease when they write this.
“…The hope that it may serve as an alternative therapy in the management of neurodegenerative diseases because of the biological side effects associated with drugs currently used in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.” (3)
Photobiomodulation works to improve conditions of Parkinson’s disease in three primary ways. Firstly, amelioration of mitochondrial function aids in the distribution of ATP, and augments the life-death cycle of all cells, including brain cells. Furthermore, PBM positively affects Parkiinson’s disease by providing neuroprotective factors, and thirdly PBM is able to lower inflammation in the brain which is a common factor in patients of PD. (3)
The authors of the article ‘The Beneficial Role of Photobiomodulation in Neurodegenerative Diseases’ (3) offer this explanation surrounding neuroprotective effects of PBM on Parkinson‘s disease patients.
“The study concluded that PBM demonstrated neuroprotective effects by restoring the loss of tyrosine hydroxylase-expressing neurons and increasing GDNF expression as compared to the control.” (3)
This means that the neuronal death causing dopamine loss, may be restored with exposure to photobiomodulation therapy. The study concludes with these remarks.
“This study puts forward and has further substantiated the role of PBM in the restoration of dopaminergic neuronal cell loss and attenuation of inflammation which is an early event in PD and has further suggested the translation from bench to the bedside, the use of PBM as a veritable therapy in the management of neurodegenerative diseases.”
No one would wish Parkinson’s disease on their worst enemy; however, it is refreshing to know that there is real substantial science based evidence for the use of light frequency to improve the quality of life for those who are living with PD.
So, how can infrared saunas help with PD?
Photobiomodulation, Infrared Saunas, Chromotherapy, and Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease may be treated with photobiomodulation, the use of red and infrared light in therapeutic doses. The exact dose needs to be measured by a phototherapy professional to ensure that the wavelength, photons, and locs are all properly regulated. If you or someone you love is currently living with progressive Parkinson’s disease it is best to work directly with a specialist.
For everyone else looking to prevent the onset of Parkinson’s disease they may turn to readily available photobiomodulation light panels, the sun (at specific times of the day when red and infrared light are most potent), and also a full spectrum infrared sauna that includes red light therapy, and near infrared light panels.
Not all infrared saunas will provide a photobiomodulation effect, so you will need to be sure that your sauna includes near infrared ceramic light heaters, as well as a red light specific therapy. It is the combination of near infrared light and red light that create the photochemical change in the body known as photobiomodulation. Your sauna should offer the light frequency from 600 nanometers to 1200 nanometers in order to be effective as a photobiomodulation vessel.
It is also possible to access near infrared and red light in high doses as the sun rises and sets, as well as when UV light frequency is low. To get enough light dose to be considered therapeutic in treating Parkinson’s disease, please work with a medically trained light therapy specialist.
If you plan to use an infrared sauna to receive the benefits of photobiomodulation remember that this is lifestyle choice and should be done on a continuous and long-term basis. Furthermore, you will want to ensure that you remain well hydrated at all times, and replenish your body with electrolytes and minerals.
A special thank you to all of the innovators behind the research to find valuable and alternative treatments for those living with, and likely suffering from Parkinson’s disease.
Sources Cited:
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5148884/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39551273/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10377111/
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237089614_Cellular_chromophores_and_signaling_in_LLLT
- https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/parkinsons-disease