Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39826026›Full record

ReviewGeroScience2025

Light buckets and laser beams: mechanisms and applications of photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy.

David W Frankowski, Luigi Ferrucci, Praveen R Arany, Dawn Bowers, Janis T Eells, Francisco Gonzalez-Lima, Nicole L Lohr, Brendan J Quirk, Harry T Whelan, Edward G Lakatta

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in GeroScience, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 25 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
25citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

25 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  7. Light therapy in medicine: where do we stand?Annals of translational medicine · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

David W FrankowskiNational Institute On Aging, Bethesda, MD, USA. Dave.Frankowski@nih.gov.ORCID 0000-0003-4418-422X
Luigi FerrucciNational Institute On Aging, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Praveen R AranyUniversity at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
Dawn BowersUniversity of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Janis T EellsUniversity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
Francisco Gonzalez-LimaThe University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
Nicole L LohrThe University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Brendan J QuirkMedical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
Harry T WhelanMedical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
Edward G LakattaNational Institute On Aging, Bethesda, MD, USA.

Funding

Small molecule NO precursors as a bioactive source of NO in vasodilation and angiogenesisR01HL139557 · NHLBI · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · PI LOHR, NICOLE · 2019 to 2023
$2.1M
BLRD VA I01 BX004675NHLBI NIH HHS R01 HL139557
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy, a non-thermal light therapy using nonionizing light sources, has shown therapeutic potential across diverse biological processes, including aging and age-associated diseases. In 2023, scientists from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) Intramural and Extramural programs convened a workshop on the topic of PBM to discuss various proposed mechanisms of PBM action, including the stimulation of mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase, modulation of cell membrane transporters and receptors, and the activation of transforming growth factor-β1. They also reviewed potential therapeutic applications of PBM across a range of conditions, including cardiovascular disease, retinal disease, Parkinson's disease, and cognitive impairment. Workshop participants largely agreed that PBM holds immense potential as a safe and effective therapeutic approach for a wide range of age-related diseases and cognitive decline. While further research is needed to fully elucidate its mechanisms and optimize treatment protocols, the findings presented at the NIA workshop provide strong evidence for the continued investigation and clinical translation of this promising, inexpensive, safe technology, to aging and age-associated diseases. Here, we review the research presented and discussion held at the meeting. In addition, the text has been updated, where applicable, with recent research findings that have been made since the meeting occurred.

Indexed as

AgingLow-Level Light TherapyCardiovascular DiseasesCognitive DysfunctionHumansAging and age-associated diseasesMitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase (CcO)Near-infrared (NIR) LightNeuroprotectionNon-ionizing light therapyNon-thermal light therapyPhotobiomodulation therapyTherapeutic applications of lightTransforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)

Identifiers

PMID39826026
PMCPMC12181550

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.