TY - JOUR
T1 - Lights on for Autism: Exploring Photobiomodulation as an Effective Therapeutic Option
AU - Hamilton, Catherine
AU - Liebert, Ann
AU - Pang, Vincent
AU - Magistretti, Pierre J.
AU - Mitrofanis, John
N1 - KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2022-11-02
Acknowledgements: We thank Fonds de Dotation Clinatec and COVEA France for supporting this work.
PY - 2022/10/27
Y1 - 2022/10/27
N2 - Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that starts in childhood and continues into adulthood. The core characteristics include difficulties with social interaction and communication, together with restricted and repetitive behaviours. There are a number of key abnormalities of brain structure and function that trigger these behavioural patterns, including an imbalance of functional connectivity and synaptic transmission, neuronal death, gliosis and inflammation. In addition, autism has been linked to alterations in the gut microbiome. Unfortunately, as it stands, there are few treatment options available for patients. In this mini-review, we consider the effectiveness of a potential new treatment for autism, known as photobiomodulation, the therapeutic use of red to near infrared light on body tissues. This treatment has been shown in a range of pathological conditions-to improve the key changes that characterise autism, including the functional connectivity and survival patterns of neurones, the patterns of gliosis and inflammation and the composition of the microbiome. We highlight the idea that photobiomodulation may form an ideal treatment option for autism, one that is certainly worthy of further investigation.
AB - Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that starts in childhood and continues into adulthood. The core characteristics include difficulties with social interaction and communication, together with restricted and repetitive behaviours. There are a number of key abnormalities of brain structure and function that trigger these behavioural patterns, including an imbalance of functional connectivity and synaptic transmission, neuronal death, gliosis and inflammation. In addition, autism has been linked to alterations in the gut microbiome. Unfortunately, as it stands, there are few treatment options available for patients. In this mini-review, we consider the effectiveness of a potential new treatment for autism, known as photobiomodulation, the therapeutic use of red to near infrared light on body tissues. This treatment has been shown in a range of pathological conditions-to improve the key changes that characterise autism, including the functional connectivity and survival patterns of neurones, the patterns of gliosis and inflammation and the composition of the microbiome. We highlight the idea that photobiomodulation may form an ideal treatment option for autism, one that is certainly worthy of further investigation.
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10754/685346
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2035-8377/14/4/71
U2 - 10.3390/neurolint14040071
DO - 10.3390/neurolint14040071
M3 - Article
C2 - 36412693
SN - 2035-8377
VL - 14
SP - 884
EP - 893
JO - Neurology International
JF - Neurology International
IS - 4
ER -