Two cases of traumatic brain injury (TBI) have shown positive results towards the transcranial light therapy. Experts say that the treatment is created to address the patients with acute stroke, chronic and major depression cases.

The first patient involved in the study had a closed-head TBI resulting from an automobile accident. Neurocognitive testing showed that two years after the accident her reasoning, verbal, and executive function skills all remained significantly impaired. The second patient suffered from multiple concussions without loss of consciousness.

The treatment involves the use of near-infrared light-emitting diodes (LEDs) placed on the forehead and scalp. The clinical trials of transcranial light therapy have reduced brain damage in preclinical models of stroke, improve memory in middle-aged mice, and improve outcomes in clinical stroke.

Two patients suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI) showed improvement in depression and anxiety for two weeks after a single light treatment.

Margaret A. Naeser, PhD, of Boston University and the Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, and colleagues say the clinical evidences supports the light therapy. The near-infrared/LED light therapy has improved the cognitive function in two patients with chronic TBI.