Abstract
Background Anxiety and depression are key barriers to healthy aging and greatly heighten the risk for many negative health issues that seriously impact life quality. Aim This mini review examines the potential of low level laser treatments or photobiomodulation therapy for ameliorating severe anxiety and depression in older adults. Methods and Procedures Articles that adressed the current topic of interest extracted from PUBMED and Google Scholar were carefully and presented in narrative form. Results Photobiomodulation therapy appears to be a safe efficacious modality for ameliorating various degrees of anxiety and depression and for improving cognition, and is supported by several well established mechanisms of action at the molecular, cellular, and tissue levels. Conclusion More research to examine who might benefit most from this form of therapy, and in what respect in this area of growing global concern and few intervention options is strongly warranted.
Highlights
Depression among the elderly is considered among the leading and most disabling health challenges facing the older population, and will be the foremost disabler by 2030 [1,2]
Aim: This mini review examines the potential of low level laser treatments or photobiomodulation therapy for ameliorating severe anxiety and depression in older adults
This use of nonthermal levels of visible or near infrared light for treating depression and anxiety in turn, may be expected to mediate the biology and pathways related to the risk and progression of these conditions via photochemical mechanisms [10,13], but may indirectly prevent the onset of, or reduce the risk of acquiring any excess or secondary chronic illness burden, injurious tissue degeneration or damage, and/ or other adverse life events and losses, including mobility losses and falls associated with aging that often in turn, heighten depression and anxiety [11, 14]
Summary
Depression among the elderly is considered among the leading and most disabling health challenges facing the older population, and will be the foremost disabler by 2030 [1,2]. Transcranial photobiomodulation [TPBM] light energy applications, which commonly involve the delivery of various forms of low level red light spectra via the skull to the brain, appears to have direct effects on brain tissue physiology thought to underpin depression, such as inflammation [13] that may help to alleviate the immense suffering experienced by the chronically anxious and/or depressed older individual, while affording them a heightened sense of emotional control, plus a sense of optimism about possible changes that might yet occur with the steady application of one or more forms of therapy over time This use of nonthermal levels of visible or near infrared light for treating depression and anxiety in turn, may be expected to mediate the biology and pathways related to the risk and progression of these conditions via photochemical mechanisms [10,13], but may indirectly prevent the onset of, or reduce the risk of acquiring any excess or secondary chronic illness burden, injurious tissue degeneration or damage, and/ or other adverse life events and losses, including mobility losses and falls associated with aging that often in turn, heighten depression and anxiety [11, 14]. Methods and Procedures: Articles that adressed the current topic of interest extracted from PUBMED and Google Scholar were carefully and presented in narrative form
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