Illuminating with Clarity: How Red Light Therapy May Support Your Brain Health and Slow Cognitive Decline
It starts subtly: misplaced keys, lost words, the occasional blank stare at a familiar face. You try laugh it off. But deep down, there’s a ripple of concern.
Cognitive decline doesn’t come overnight, and it doesn’t always scream to catch your attention. Sometimes it whispers—in the slower recall, the mounting fatigue, the dulling of the sharpness you know you once had, but can’t quite deploy.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not the only one, and you’re not imagining it. The brain changes as we age. That doesn't mean we can't make a brighter future.
A growing body of research is exploring how something as simple and non-invasive as Red Light Therapy might help. It’s not science fiction. It’s called Photobiomodulation, and it could be one of the most exciting developments in cognitive wellness in years.
Let’s walk through what it is, what the research says, and why people here in Sacramento are starting to explore it.
Red Light Therapy: A Brief (and Fascinating) History This story starts in a lab in Hungary in 1967, when a scientist named Endre Mester noticed something odd. He was trying to study lasers on mice but found that the red light he used didn’t just bounce off—it actually sped up hair regrowth and healing.
Fast forward to NASA in the '80s and '90s, experimenting with red LEDs to grow plants in space. The side effect? Their astronauts healed faster from wounds. Light, it turned out, didn’t just illuminate—it could heal.
That discovery led to a cascade of applications: joint pain, skin repair, injury recovery. And then the question came: If Red Light helps the body heal, what might it do for the brain? Today, that question is being answered through cutting-edge studies on how red and Near-Infrared Light can improve cognition, reduce neuroinflammation, and support memory.
How Does Red Light Therapy Work for the Brain? Red light therapy, or Photobiomodulation, involves applying specific wavelengths of red (around 630–680 nm) or near-infrared (830–940 nm) light to the body. Certain types of light can stimulate mitochondria (the power generators in your cells) to boost ATP, or cellular energy. Think of it like charging your cells with a gentle, natural power source.
Other known effects of Red Light Therapy for brain health include:
Improved blood flow and oxygenation
Decreased inflammation and oxidative stress
Increased release of BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor), which supports neuron repair and growth
Enhanced synaptic plasticity, which helps with memory and learning
All of these mechanisms are crucial when it comes to maintaining memory, focus, and overall cognitive performance.
So What Does the Research Say? Let’s take a look at some highlights from recent peer-reviewed studies, keeping it clear, grounded, and relevant to you:
✅ Sharper Memory in Just One Week: A 2022 study published in Neurophotonics found that adults over 50 who received seven daily 12-minute sessions of Near-Infrared light to the forehead showed significant improvements in working memory that lasted three weeks post-treatment.
Even better? A consistent series of sessions outperformed a single session—meaning routine matters.
✅ Cognitive Boosts in Dementia and MCI: A 2023 systematic review in Ageing Research Reviews looked at 35 studies using Photobiomodulation for cognitive function. All 9 studies that focused on mild cognitive impairment or dementia showed measurable improvements.
Another 2021 clinical trial showed that individuals with mild-to-moderate dementia who used a daily Red/NIR light therapy device at home for 8 weeks reported better memory, mood, and sleep.
✅ Post-Concussion Recovery and Clarity: People dealing with the lingering effects of head injuries also appear to benefit. A 2014 study found that veterans with chronic TBI symptoms showed improved attention, memory, and mood after 12 weeks of Red Light Therapy.
Brain Fog, Long COVID, and Everyday Fatigue Not all cognitive fog is dementia. Many of us—especially post-COVID—struggle with a general sense of mental sluggishness.
In a 2023 pilot study, participants with long COVID who experienced brain fog saw notable improvements in executive function and memory after four weeks of Red Light Therapy sessions.
The theory? Red light helps restore oxygen and energy flow in inflamed or energy-depleted regions—supporting mental clarity and reducing fatigue.
Is It Safe? Yes—Red and Near-Infrared Light have an excellent safety profile when used correctly. The light doesn’t contain UV rays, doesn’t heat tissue, and doesn’t damage DNA. In clinical studies, adverse effects were minimal and rare, typically limited to mild headaches from dehydration or sensitivity to light in general.
Still, we recommend working with a trained provider for a series of sessions to kick start your cognitive journey. This will ensure you are receiving the correct protocol with correct frequency, consistency and a safe device. (Not all red-light devices are created equal!)
Realistic Expectations: What to Know. We want to be clear: this is not a magic cure, and it’s not a replacement for medical care. But it is a promising complementary tool to explore if you’re experiencing:
Memory lapses
Brain fog
Post-concussion symptoms
Mild cognitive impairment
Aging-related mental fatigue
Long Covid
It may also be of interest to anyone proactively looking to preserve cognitive sharpness as they age. We always tell our clients: Red Light Therapy is like a gym for your cells. You won’t walk out of one session a new person—but over time, consistency builds results.
Final Thought: At Enlighten, we believe in your right to age—with clarity, grace, and choice.
If you’re curious about how Red Light Therapy can improve brain function, we invite you to try a session. No pressure, no gimmicks. Just light, science, and care.
Because sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do is gently shine a light on the parts of yourself that feel dimmed.
Ready to Explore? Experience RLT for cognitive health support, brain fog, or simply to feel a little bit more like yourself again. Our full-body and targeted sessions are designed to support energy production, reducing inflammation, and systemic wellness that can complement your brain health journey.
Book Now by clicking the link below Or call/text us at 916-300-0916. Let's light your way out of the fog!
Works Cited
Yang, Y., Liu, H., Wang, T., et al. (2022). "Transcranial photobiomodulation improves working memory in healthy older adults: A randomized controlled trial." Neurophotonics, 9(2), 025004.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35297368/Chan, A. S., Leung, C. O., & Cheung, M. C. (2023). "Efficacy of transcranial photobiomodulation for cognitive improvement: A systematic review." Ageing Research Reviews, 86, 101847.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37379426/Nizamutdinov, D., Liu, H., Haque, M., et al. (2022). "Transcranial near-infrared photobiomodulation therapy for dementia: A pilot clinical study." Biomedicines, 10(4), 850.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9025276/Naeser, M. A., Saltmarche, A., Krengel, M. H., et al. (2014). "Improved cognitive function after transcranial, light-emitting diode treatments in chronic, traumatic brain injury: Two case reports." Photomedicine and Laser Surgery, 32(9), 543–551.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24568233/da Silva, D. F., de Freitas, R. C. C., et al. (2023). "Photobiomodulation therapy on cognitive dysfunction in post-COVID-19 condition: A pilot clinical study." Journal of Personalized Medicine, 13(5), 723.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10184331/