--- title: "Transcranial Near Infrared Light Stimulations Improve Cognition…" description: "Transcranial near-infrared light therapy appears safe and improves cognitive function, sleep, and mood in dementia patients." url: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d34221541.md" canonical: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d34221541.html" html: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d34221541.html" type: "study" study_key: "d34221541" journal: "Aging Dis" year: 2021 pmid: "34221541" doi: "10.14336/AD.2021.0229" citations: 1 updated: 2026-09-02 author: "Gabriel Radu, DO" author_credentials: "Physiatrist (PM&R). NY medical license 275110. NPI 1376861765." publisher: "Magellan Longevity" content_format: "markdown" --- # Transcranial Near Infrared Light Stimulations Improve Cognition in Patients with Dementia [Home](https://magellanlongevity.com/) › [Research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) › Transcranial Near Infrared Light Stimulations Improve… **HTML version:** https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d34221541.html · **In the Magellan app:** https://magellanlongevity.com/#/study/d34221541 ## Citation | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Journal | Aging Dis | | Year | 2021 | | PMID | [34221541](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34221541/) | | DOI | [10.14336/AD.2021.0229](https://doi.org/10.14336/AD.2021.0229) | | Study key | d34221541 | ## Takeaway Transcranial near-infrared light therapy appears safe and improves cognitive function, sleep, and mood in dementia patients. ## The question Can transcranial near-infrared (tNIR) light stimulations safely improve cognitive function in patients with mild to moderate dementia? ## Hypothesis Transcranial near-infrared light stimulations will be safe and provide therapeutic benefits for patients with dementia. ## Methods Patients with mild to moderate dementia were randomized into active and sham treatment groups at a 2:1 ratio. The active group received low-power tNIR light stimulations for 6 minutes twice daily over 8 weeks, while the sham group received the same routine with a sham device. Neuropsychological tests were administered before and after treatment, and outcomes were analyzed using ANOVA. Sixty subjects were enrolled, and 57 completed the study. ## Results Fifty-seven subjects completed the study without reporting health or adverse side effects related to tNIR light. The active treatment group showed improvements in cognitive functions, including an average increase of MMSE by 4.8 points, Logical Memory Tests I and II by approximately 3.0 points, Trail Making Tests A and B by approximately 24%, and Boston Naming Test by approximately 9%. Improvements were also observed in Auditory Verbal Learning Tests across all subtest categories and overall performance time. Many patients reported improved sleep after about 7 days, and caregivers noted less anxiety, improved mood, energy, and positive daily routine after about 14-21 days. ## Conclusion Transcranial near-infrared light treatments are safe and lead to positive cognitive improvements in patients with dementia. The developed treatment protocol is suitable for home use. ## Limitations The abstract does not explicitly state limitations of the study, but it suggests that additional trials are warranted. ## Verbatim from the abstract > tNIR light treatments demonstrated safety and positive cognitive improvements in patients with dementia ## Cognitive Improvements After tNIR Light Treatment | Measure | Improvement (%) or Points | | --- | --- | | MMSE Increase | 4.8 | | Logical Memory Tests I and II Increase | 3 | | Trail Making Tests A and B Improvement | 24 | | Boston Naming Test Improvement | 9 | *Average improvements in various cognitive tests after 8 weeks of transcranial near-infrared light treatment.* ## Where this study is used on Magellan This paper is one of the citations behind the evidence grade on the pages below. Grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of affiliate commissions. | Compound or device | Evidence grade | Graded pages | | --- | --- | --- | | Transcranial PBM Helmet | — | — | ## Reference 1. **Transcranial Near Infrared Light Stimulations Improve Cognition in Patients with Dementia** Aging Dis 2021 · [PMID 34221541](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34221541/) · [DOI 10.14336/AD.2021.0229](https://doi.org/10.14336/AD.2021.0229) > tNIR light treatments demonstrated safety and positive cognitive improvements in patients with dementia ## Structured data ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"MedicalWebPage","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d34221541.html#page","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d34221541.html","name":"Transcranial Near Infrared Light Stimulations Improve Cognition in Patients with Dementia","description":"Transcranial near-infrared light therapy appears safe and improves cognitive function, sleep, and mood in dementia patients.","inLanguage":"en","isPartOf":{"@type":"WebSite","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Gabriel Radu, DO","jobTitle":"Physiatrist (PM&R)","identifier":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NPI","value":"1376861765"},{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NY medical license","value":"275110"}]},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"encoding":{"@type":"MediaObject","encodingFormat":"text/markdown","contentUrl":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d34221541.md"},"dateModified":"2026-09-02"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research map","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Transcranial Near Infrared Light Stimulations Improve…","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d34221541.html"}]},{"@type":"ScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d34221541.html#study","name":"Transcranial Near Infrared Light Stimulations Improve Cognition in Patients with Dementia","headline":"Transcranial Near Infrared Light Stimulations Improve Cognition in Patients with Dementia","datePublished":"2021","isPartOf":{"@type":"Periodical","name":"Aging Dis"},"identifier":"PMID:34221541","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34221541/","sameAs":"https://doi.org/10.14336/AD.2021.0229","abstract":"Transcranial near-infrared light therapy appears safe and improves cognitive function, sleep, and mood in dementia patients."}]} ``` ## Related on Magellan Longevity - [Evidence: near-infrared light to cortex, BDNF](https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s159.md) - [Dose response of transcranial near infrared light stimulation on cognition in older adults](https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d37776079.md) - [Longevity research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) - [Evidence-based longevity supplements](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-supplements.md) ## Scope and disclosures Educational information, not medical advice. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your physician before starting any supplement or device, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication. Editorial firewall: evidence grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of any affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, Magellan Longevity earns from qualifying purchases. Reviewed for accuracy by a board-certified physician (DO).