Transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM), sometimes referred to as light therapy, is attracting growing interest as a potential treatment for a range of neurological conditions. It involves applying red or near-infrared light to the scalp and is being explored as a way of supporting brain function.
A small 2025 study has suggested tPBM may help some people experiencing long-term symptoms following a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), particularly in areas such as attention, memory, sleep and pain. While the findings are encouraging, the evidence remains at an early stage and tPBM is not currently regarded as a standard treatment.
What is tPBM?
tPBM uses a device that delivers red or near-infrared light through the scalp. Researchers believe the treatment may support brain cell activity and blood flow, which could, in turn, support brain function. At present, the exact mechanisms and clinical benefits remain under investigation.
What did the study find?
The study involved 23 adults with persistent symptoms following mTBI, with 17 completing the full programme. Participants received both active treatment and a placebo version of the treatment at different stages of the trial.
The study found:
- Improvements in some measures of attention, working memory and verbal learning after active treatment
- Better self-reported sleep quality · Reductions in post-concussion symptoms, pain and PTSD symptoms
- No significant safety concerns or serious adverse effects
However, not all improvements were significantly better than placebo treatment, and some results may have been influenced by participants becoming familiar with the tests over time.
Why should the findings be treated cautiously?
This was a small pilot study and has several limitations. There was no long-term follow-up and the study cannot tell us whether any benefits would persist over time or translate into meaningful improvements in everyday life.
Importantly, performing better on a test does not necessarily mean a person is better able to work, study, manage daily activities or participate in family and social life. These are often the outcomes that matter most in rehabilitation.
What could this mean for mTBI claims?
The reported improvements in sleep, attention, working memory, pain and post-concussion symptoms will naturally be of interest to those with ongoing symptoms of mTBI who have exhausted more conventional options.
However, the key consideration remains whether a proposed treatment produces measurable functional improvements, such as:
- Returning to work or education
- Better management of fatigue
- Increased independence
- Improved participation in social and family activities
For people experiencing persistent post-concussion symptoms, the lack of established treatment options can be frustrating. Emerging therapies such as tPBM are therefore of understandable interest, but it remains too early to draw firm conclusions from the available evidence.
As awareness of tPBM grows, requests for rehabilitation funding may begin to emerge before the treatment is incorporated into mainstream clinical guidance. Should tPBM be recommended as a treatment option, claimant and defendant representatives should consider:
- Who is recommending tPBM, and is the recommendation within their expertise?
- What diagnosis and symptoms is the treatment intended to address?
- What conventional treatment or rehabilitation has already been tried?
- What device and protocol will be used, and how closely do they reflect the research?
- What measurable functional outcomes will be recorded at baseline and review?
- What is the total proposed cost and duration?
- What are the review points and stopping criteria?
- How will any improvement be distinguished from fluctuation, placebo effect or concurrent treatment?
- If funding is agreed, should the basis on which it is provided be expressly recorded?
Current position
The study provides a reason to monitor developments in this area, rather than a basis for routine funding. Larger, independent studies are needed to determine whether tPBM can deliver meaningful and lasting improvements for people with mTBI.
For now, any request for funding should be considered on its individual merits, with particular focus on the supporting evidence and the functional benefit the treatment is expected to achieve.
Source
Lee, T.-L. et al. (2025), “Transcranial Photobiomodulation Improves Cognitive Function, Post-Concussion, and PTSD Symptoms in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury”, Journal of Neurotrauma, 42(19-20), 1695-1707. DOI: 10.1089/neu.2025.0048.
