Infrared light therapy shows potential to slow age related heart disease in research
Researchers from the University of Buffalo and the US National Institutes of Health explored how exposure to infrared light, a method known as photobiomodulation therapy, could influence heart aging. The study, reported in a science journal focused on lasers and surgical medicine, examined the impact of this light treatment on heart health indicators and tissue structure in aging models.
The experiments used animals with ages equivalent to late middle age in humans and subjected them to infrared light therapy using a top level LED device. The treatment lasted two minutes per session, five days a week. Over the course of the study, heart function showed measurable improvements and the thickness of the heart wall decreased, suggesting the therapy helped the heart relax and pump with less resistance.
Scientists explained that as heart muscles thicken with age, the heart becomes stiffer and its pumping efficiency declines. The results indicated that regular infrared exposure could counter some of these changes, supporting a healthier heart rhythm and stronger cardiac output in the aging model.
In deeper tests, the team studied a group of mice with genetic modifications that mimic severe heart disease often linked to poor outcomes. Those receiving photobiomodulation therapy did not show the usual progression of the disease and enjoyed higher survival rates compared with the untreated group. In this controlled comparison, survival rose to full longevity in the treated cohort versus a typical rate in the untreated cohort.
A key finding points to the biological activity sparked by light exposure. The therapy appeared to increase the production of a signaling molecule known as TGF beta one. This substance plays a role in regulating stem cell behavior, inflammation, and immune responses, and its elevated presence may help explain how light therapy supports heart health and resilience in the aging heart.
Beyond the immediate heart benefits, the research highlights the broader potential of photobiomodulation to influence cellular activities and tissue repair processes. While the work remains in the preclinical stage, it adds a growing body of evidence that specific wavelengths of light can interact with cellular pathways to support heart health during aging. The findings encourage further exploration in larger models and human trials to determine practical treatment regimens, safety profiles, and long term outcomes for patients facing age related cardiac decline. Cited in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, the study underscores the importance of continuing investment in light based therapies as part of a comprehensive approach to cardiovascular aging research.
Overall, the study suggests infrared light therapy could serve as an adjunct option to support heart health in older adults. It does not replace established medical practices but opens the door to new strategies for maintaining cardiac function and extending healthy years through non invasive means. Future studies will aim to clarify optimal light doses, exposure schedules, and the interplay between light therapy, stem cell regulation, and immune system dynamics to maximize benefits while ensuring safety.
Source attribution: Lasers in Surgery and Medicine and associated research teams.