CNSPulse

PHOTOBIOMODULATION WITH NEAR INFRARED LIGHT: A NOVEL TREATMENT FOR PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS

Dan Iosifescu — New York University School of Medicine

2026 ASCP Annual Meeting

Transcranial photobiomodulation (t-PBM) with near-infrared light penetrates robustly into the cerebral cortex and is absorbed by the mitochondrial enzyme cytochrome c oxidase, stimulating the mitochondrial respiratory chain and leading to increased ATP production. t-PBM also significantly increases cerebral blood flow and oxygenation. Antidepressant effects and pro-cognitive effects of t-PBM have been reported in animal models and in humans. This panel will present new data on the effects of t-PBM in several neuropsychiatric disorders. Dr. Cassano will present data from studies in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), including a recent study where different parameter combinations of t-PBM resulted in divergent effects on cerebral hemodynamics (measured with fMRI BOLD) and on clinical symptoms of depression. We will additionally present the effects of several doses of t-PBM on brain temperature (measured with 1H-MRS chemical shift). Dr. Iosifescu will present data on the effects of t-PBM in Alzheimer’s’ disease, including from a recently completed large study. Dr. Almeida will present data from t-PBM studies in subjects with bipolar disorder and cognitive disfunction. t-PBM significantly improved executive function and attention in individuals with remitted bipolar disorder. Neuroimaging revealed a biphasic cerebral blood flow response, suggesting dynamic neuromodulatory effects. Finally, Dr. Gaggi will synthesize neuroimaging evidence across multiple clinical populations to clarify the neurophysiological mechanisms through which tPBM influences brain activity, highlighting existing studies including data from our group demonstrating that intrinsic brain signals such as the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) in the fMRI BOLD signal track metabolic responsiveness to tPBM in early Alzheimer’s disease and major depressive disorder, with lower baseline metabolism predicting larger neural modulation. In aggregate, these data support the role of t-PBM as a novel neuromodulation technique with unique biological and clinical effects in neuropsychiatric disorders. The panel will also outline how measurable imaging markers integrated with the clinical data can serve to establish dose-dependent neural effects and can guide the development of more precise, mechanism-based interventions such as t-PBM.

Learning Objective 1: The participants will be able to describe the mechanism of transcranial photobiomodulation

Learning Objective 2: The participants will be able to discuss neuropsychiatric disorders where transcranial photobiomodulation has shown preliminary clinical efficacy

References

  1. Gaggi NL, Iosifescu DV. Transcranial photobiomodulation: an emerging therapeutic method to enhance brain bioenergetics. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2024; 50(1):314-315.
  2. Vieira WF, Iosifescu DV, McEachern KM, Gersten M, Cassano P. Photobiomodulation: An Emerging Treatment Modality for Depression. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2023; 46(2):331-348.