When we talk about brain health, we often focus on things like neurotransmitters, plaques, or changes seen on imaging. But underneath all of that is something very basic and very important: energy. The brain is one of the most energy-demanding organs in the body, requiring a constant supply of oxygen and fuel to support memory, focus, mood, and overall cognitive function.
As we age, or when we deal with chronic stress, inflammation, vascular issues, or metabolic dysfunction, the brain’s ability to produce and use energy efficiently can decline. This often shows up in ways people describe as brain fog, slower thinking, trouble concentrating, poor sleep, or subtle changes in memory. Because of this, there has been growing interest in therapies that aim to support brain energy and blood flow, rather than just addressing symptoms after they appear.
One area that has received increasing attention is light-based therapy, specifically a form known as photobiomodulation.
What Is Vielight?
Vielight is a wellness technology that uses specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light to support brain function. The light is delivered using a non-invasive, at-home device that applies light through the scalp and inside the nasal cavity, allowing it to reach areas of the brain involved in cognition, memory, and attention.
Vielight devices are designed to support overall brain wellness and cognitive performance. They are not approved to diagnose or treat neurological disease, but they have been used in research settings to study how light exposure may influence brain physiology and function.
Sessions are relatively short and easy to use, and the technology is intended to be a supportive tool, not a replacement for medical care or a comprehensive brain health plan. As with any intervention that affects the brain, individual responses can vary, and it’s important to approach new therapies thoughtfully and with appropriate medical guidance.
What Is Photobiomodulation (PBM)?
Photobiomodulation, often shortened to PBM, is a form of light therapy that uses specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light to influence how cells function. These wavelengths are non-ionizing, meaning they do not damage DNA like ultraviolet light does. Instead, they interact with structures inside the cell, particularly the mitochondria.
Mitochondria are often described as the cell’s power plants because they produce ATP, the molecule that supplies energy for nearly all cellular activity. Neurons are especially dependent on mitochondrial energy because of how metabolically demanding brain function is. Research suggests that when mitochondria absorb near-infrared light, they may become more efficient at producing energy and supporting cellular repair processes.
In the brain, this increased energy availability may help support neuronal communication, blood flow, and overall network efficiency. One way to think about photobiomodulation is that it may help brain cells operate with a more reliable energy supply, similar to improving the quality of fuel going into an engine rather than pushing the engine to work harder.
How Vielight May Support Brain Function
Vielight devices deliver light at specific pulse frequencies that are associated with different brain states. Two commonly discussed frequencies are alpha, around 10 Hz, which is associated with relaxation and restorative brain activity, and gamma, around 40 Hz, which is associated with attention, memory formation, and information processing.
Rather than directly “stimulating” the brain in the way medications or electrical devices might, photobiomodulation appears to support basic cellular and vascular processes. Research suggests that near-infrared light may help improve mitochondrial energy production, support nitric oxide signaling, and enhance cerebral blood flow. Together, these effects may help brain networks communicate more efficiently.
For some individuals, this may translate into improved mental clarity, focus, sleep quality, or cognitive stamina. It’s important to remember that these effects are supportive and not guaranteed, and responses can vary widely. Vielight is best understood as one tool that may help optimize the brain’s environment, especially when combined with attention to sleep, metabolic health, vascular health, and inflammation.
What the Research Shows So Far
Vielight technology has been evaluated in several small clinical and pilot studies, particularly in people experiencing cognitive decline or neurological stress. Imaging-based research has helped shed light on what may be happening inside the brain during photobiomodulation therapy.
In a pilot study conducted at the University of California, San Francisco, researchers used advanced MRI techniques to examine changes in brain function following near-infrared light therapy. Imaging showed increased cerebral blood flow and improved functional connectivity between regions involved in memory and cognitive integration, including connections between the hippocampus and posterior cingulate cortex. The study also observed changes in the brain’s default mode network, which plays an important role in memory and internal processing and is often disrupted in neurodegenerative conditions.
Earlier pilot studies conducted in collaboration with Harvard Medical School and Boston University reported improvements in cognition, mood, and sleep in individuals with mild to moderate cognitive impairment using transcranial and intranasal photobiomodulation. While these findings are encouraging, it’s important to be clear that these studies were small and exploratory. Larger, well-controlled trials are still needed to better understand who may benefit most, optimal treatment protocols, and long-term outcomes.
As with many emerging approaches in brain health, photobiomodulation is best approached with informed curiosity and appropriate medical guidance. It is not a substitute for comprehensive evaluation or individualized care, but it does represent an interesting and actively studied area focused on supporting brain energy, connectivity, and resilience.
A Thoughtful Approach to Brain Health
Brain health is complex, and no single therapy works in isolation. Technologies like photobiomodulation may offer additional support for brain energy and function, but they are most effective when considered as part of a broader, individualized approach.
Supporting brain health over time involves addressing factors such as vascular health, metabolic function, sleep quality, inflammation, toxin exposure, and lifestyle habits. Light-based therapies may play a role within this larger framework, particularly for individuals who are interested in proactive, evidence-informed strategies to support cognitive resilience.
If you are interested in taking a proactive approach to your brain health, or if you would like guidance on evidence-based strategies to support cognitive function over time, Dr. Dersam can help you explore appropriate next steps and determine which options may be right for you.
