Medical research
Dr Hamilton has been involved in a range of clinical research activities. Here are some of her research papers.
Transcranial red and near infrared lights in people with Parkinson’s Disease - 2018
We summarise the early findings of people with Parkinson’s disease using light hats, and then we focus on what is likely to happen in the brain. It is a bit technical, but our peer-reviewed journal article is the very first to consider the significant implications the results from our case studies.
Reference: Hamilton C, Hamilton D, Nicklason F, El Massri N, Mitrofanis J. Exploring the use of transcranial photobiomodulation in Parkinson's disease patients. Neural Regen Res 2018;13:1738-40
Case studies of people with Parkinson’s disease using red and near infrared light hats - 2019
In this article, we summarise six people’s experience with the daily use of a red and near infrared light hat. All had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. All showed considerable improvements using daily red and near infrared lights.
The problem areas included tremor, difficulty walking, sleep disruption, difficulty swallowing and speaking, having a blank face unable to show emotion, not being able to smell, problems using fingers and hands and having difficulty in social situations. After using the lights every day, each person had improvement in most of the problem areas. There was no other change in treatment to account for these improvements. The other important thing is that none worsened in any way.
The curious thing was that the individual with the PD didn’t always feel that much had changed, even though everyone around could appreciate the changes. Parkinson’s is such a tricky thing.
Reference: Hamilton CL, El Khoury H, Hamilton D, Nicklason F, Mitrofanis J. The “Buckets”: Early Observations on the Use of Red and Infrared Light Helmets in Parkinson’s Disease Patients. Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine, and Laser Surgery. 2019. doi:10.1089/photob.2019.4663
Transcranial photobiomodulation therapy: observations from four movement disorder patients -2019
We were asked to write a chapter in a book about the effect of red and near infrared light on the brain. We described patients with movement disorders, including Parkinson’s disease and Progressive supranuclear Palsy and the improvements they all made after they started using red and near infrared lights on the head.
It is an expensive book, but just in case you are interested in purchasing, here’s the link.
Reference: Hamilton C, Hamilton D, Nicklason F, Mitrofanis J. Chapter 33 - Transcranial photobiomodulation therapy: observations from four movement disorder patients. In: Hamblin MR, Huang YY, eds. Photobiomodulation in the Brain. Academic Press; 2019:463-472. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-815305-5.00033-6
Comparing light inside and shining on the brain in Parkinson’s disease - 2021
In this paper, we considered the impact of transcranial and intracranial red and near-infrared light. A study is underway in France in which people with Parkinson’s disease have been given intracranial implants with 670nm LED lights. The location of the light is right in the key part of the basal ganglia. Early results are very promising, and similar to those experienced by people with Parkinson’s disease using transcranial lights, the Duo Coronet in particular.
We realised that because much damage had been done all over the brain in people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, it makes sense that the best effect would be from lights implanted in the brain a and lights shining over the whole of the outer part of the brain, the cortex. This harks back to simulations published by Yue et al, showing that the more light coverage on the brain, the better the penetration of the light and therefore the greater the direct effect.
We have recreated this with the Duo Coronet and intranasal CoroNase, without the terror of brain surgery!
Reference: Johnstone DM, Hamilton C, Gordon LC, et al. Exploring the Use of Intracranial and Extracranial (Remote) Photobiomodulation Devices in Parkinson’s Disease: A Comparison of Direct and Indirect Systemic Stimulations. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. Published online April 5, 2021. doi:10.3233/JAD-210052
The code of light: all about biophotons - 2022
This is one of my favourite articles. We describe how brain cells can generate and receive light pulses. It is another form of communication in the brain, and the message is encoded in the wavelength, pulse rate and power. The important thing in our paper is that visible red 670nm is the wavelength that brain cells use to tell each other that all is well. The mechanisms to generate and receive this wavelength is hard-wired into the cells. With the Duo Coronet and CoroNase, we simply tap into that pre-existing mechanism. It’s no wonder that they so effective.
Reference: Moro C, Liebert A, Hamilton C., Pasqual N., Jeffery G., Stone J. Mitrofanis J. The code of light: do neurons generate light to communicate and repair? Neural Regeneration Research. 2022;17(6):1251. doi:10.4103/1673-5374.327332
Photobiomodulation and autism - 2022
In this article, we describe the mechanisms by which transcranial photobiomodulation can improve problem symptoms in people with autism. Our experience is that careful use of the Duo Coronet makes a big difference to quality of life for the individuals with autisms and for those who love them.
Reference: Hamilton C, Liebert A, Pang V, Magistretti P, Mitrofanis J. Lights on for Autism: Exploring Photobiomodulation as an Effective Therapeutic Option. Neurology International. 2022;14(4):884-893. doi:10.3390/neurolint14040071
Duo Coronet used in research by Dr Ann Liebert
Some light relief, no pun intended. On 28 May 2021, came an article in The Australian describing the use of the Duo coronet and other light devices in a small Parkinson’s disease trial.
Here’s a photo from the article taken by Ryan Osland.
Margaret Jarrett in Adelaide was one of the people involved in a Parkinson’s disease study using the Well Red Duo Coronet a few years back. Here are photos (courtesy of Channel 7) of her wearing her device, a new fashion, as she commented, but one which makes a huge difference to her life.
Upcoming
We are now working on another chapter in a book about photobiomodulation. Our chapter is about Parkinson’s disease. It will be a few years before it appears in print, and the nose is to the grindstone.