Phototherapy device that emits near-infrared light beneficial for sleep disorders

USA: A recent study has revealed that near-infrared (NIR) phototherapy of the head and neck before bed may offer potential therapeutic benefits for sleep and daytime function. The study was presented at the SLEEP 2023 annual meeting and published in the Sleep Journal.

“This novel phototherapy device-while still being explored and in need of further research-appeared to be generally well-tolerated by a small group of participants,” said lead author Kathryn Kennedy, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Arizona in Tucson. “Those with active, light-emitting devices-as opposed to the inert sham devices-self-reported an increase in relaxation and better sleep with use.”

Results show that self-reported sleep-related symptoms improved after three weeks of treatment. The active treatment group participants reported experiencing better sleep quality, feeling refreshed and relaxed, and functioning better during the day.

According to the authors, transdermal delivery of near-infrared light exhibits several therapeutic properties, including increased relaxation, likely through stimulation of parasympathetic activity. However, the benefits of near-infrared light delivery for sleep and next-day daytime functioning have been unexplored.

The five-week, randomized, sham-controlled study involved 30 adults between 30 and 60 years old. Each participant reported having sleep complaints but did not have a sleep disorder. After a two-week baseline period, participants wore a cervical collar every other night before bed for three weeks. The collar emitted near-infrared light for those in the active treatment group, and for those in the sham treatment group, the collar was inactive. Participants completed questionnaires about physical symptoms and insomnia severity, and they provided daily ratings of measures such as sleep quality, perceived changes to sleep, feeling refreshed, relaxation, and daytime functioning. Results were compared between groups.

Kennedy noted that while there are many sleep trackers in the marketplace, there are few wearable devices targeted at improving sleep and next-day performance, making near-infrared light an intriguing candidate with the potential to become a novel treatment for sub-clinical sleep complaints.

“Given the emerging field of photobiomodulation and its potential neuroprotective and vasodilating effects, this red-light and near-infrared emitting device may be useful if milliwatt power level, dosage, and frequency of use are refined,” she said.

Reference:

Kathryn E R Kennedy, Chloe C A Wills, Catie Holt, Michael Grandner, A Randomized, Sham-Controlled Pilot Trial of a Novel Near-Infrared Phototherapy Device on Sleep and Daytime Function, Sleep, https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsad077.0378.