Case studies of people with Parkinson’s disease using DIY bucket light hat devices

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

This article summarises six people’s experience with the daily use of a red and near infrared light hat.  All had been diagnosed with PD. All showed 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.