Overview
- University of Utah Health researchers reported that 26 players randomized to active photobiomodulation did not show the season-long rise in MRI-measured inflammation seen in placebo controls.
- The intervention used a light-emitting headset plus an intranasal clip, self-administered three times weekly for 20 minutes over a 16-week season.
- Findings, published in Journal of Neurotrauma, suggest protection across most brain regions but remain preliminary.
- Limitations include the small sample size, baseline differences between groups, and a disclosed consulting relationship with the device maker, Vielight, Inc.
- External experts warn that consumer red-light products may not match the study devices’ wavelengths or penetration, and long-term safety and clinical impact are still unproven, with a DoD-funded ~300-person trial up next.