Radiance of the radiant mind: Russian doctors will treat dementia with light

For the first time in the world, Russian scientists have shown that certain vessels of the brain are ideal targets for exposure to light, and have developed a new medical field — lymphatonics. This method stimulates tissue drainage and removes dangerous toxins with the flow of liquid. It can become an effective tool for the treatment of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, dementia, and others. As scientists told Izvestia, the first medical device for light stimulation of the brain will appear in Russia as early as 2026. Experts highly appreciated the new technology, however, despite the promising results, additional research needs to be conducted.

What is lymphatonics?

Scientists of Saratov National Research State University named after N.G. Chernyshevsky (SSU) have laid the foundations of a new direction in biophotonics — lymphatonics. This was reported to Izvestia by the press service of the Ministry of Education and Science. Researchers have found that meningeal lymphatic vessels (MLS) located in the meninges of the brain can be effectively stimulated by light, improving the elimination of toxins and slowing the development of diseases.

Professor Oksana Semyachkina-Glushkovskaya

Photo: SSU press service

— For the first time in the world, we have shown that meningeal lymphatic vessels are ideal targets for therapeutic exposure to light. They are located in the membranes of the brain directly on its surface, and therefore light, even with the loss of energy when passing through the skull and scalp, has a stimulating effect on the functions of the MLS,— said Oksana Semyachkina-Glushkovskaya, head of the Department of Human and Animal Physiology and deputy head of the SSU Scientific Medical Center.

Scientists around the world have already recognized the positive effects of phototherapy on the regenerative properties of the brain, she said. But it was still not clear how light causes systemic responses, improves memory, cognitive functions, that is, how it affects complex behavioral reactions.

According to the researchers, with the discovery of meningeal lymphatic vessels and the development of photostimulation technologies for their functions, it became obvious that the lymphatic system of the meninges largely answers these questions. MLS removes toxins from the brain along with the flow of fluids. This action of blood vessels helps to maintain the immunity of the central nervous system and increases its resistance to the development of diseases.

Photo: TASS/Uli Deck

Pharmacological strategies for the treatment of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, dementia and oncology are ineffective at this stage, the scientists noted. In this context, non—pharmacological approaches, including technologies based on lymphatonics, such as photostimulation of brain tissue drainage, are gaining special promise, the developers of the method said.

According to them, the first medical device for light brain stimulation, AS—SGMO, will appear in Russia as early as 2026, and it is currently undergoing clinical trials. It is a non-invasive device that acts on the lymphatic vessels through the scalp, improving drainage function. In the coming years, similar technologies are planned to be implemented in foreign partner scientific centers of SSU in China, India and Iran.

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Treatment of neurodegenerative diseases

The next step in the work of scientists is the creation of a "Lymphoscanner", a portable device for the diagnosis and therapy of neurodegenerative diseases. It will combine microwave technology (analogous to mini-MRI) and laser stimulation at a wavelength of 1064 nm. The device is expected to enter the market by 2030.

The approach of Saratov scientists is innovative and promising, as for the first time it offers non-invasive light exposure to the meningeal lymphatic vessels of the brain to improve the drainage of toxins, Alexander Zakharov, director of the Research Institute of Neuroscience at SamSMU, an expert at the NTI Center based at SamSMU and the NTI Healthnet market, told Izvestia. This could be a breakthrough in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, where traditional medicinal methods are often ineffective. Of particular interest is the simplicity of the method and its potential safety, although final conclusions can only be drawn after clinical trials.

Photo: Global Look Press/Sven Hoppe

—The technology can be used for the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, vascular dementia, the effects of strokes, as well as some forms of neuro-oncology. The main mechanism of action is to accelerate the elimination of toxic proteins (beta—amyloid, alpha-synuclein) and improve the lymphatic drainage of the brain, which slows down the progression of diseases and improves cognitive functions," the expert noted.

In recent years, it has become known that light can affect health through special proteins called opsins. These are light-sensitive receptors that trigger various reactions in cells. They were found not only in the eyes, but also in the brain, skin, blood vessels and adipose tissue, Albert Rizvanov, head of the Center for Excellence "Personalized Medicine" at Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan, told Izvestia.

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— Thanks to them, light is able to regulate cognitive functions, mood, pain, metabolism, and even the development of neurons. However, despite the promising results, it is necessary to conduct additional research in the framework of evidence-based medicine, which will allow for a deeper understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of light exposure. This will help not only to increase the effectiveness of therapy, but also to expand its application, relying not only on empirical data, but also on a clear understanding of the pathogenesis of diseases and the mechanisms of the therapeutic effect of photostimulation," he noted.

The work was supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation. Detailed information about the theory and practice of Saratov scientists in lymphatonics is published in the journal Medical Gas Research.