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The Neuro-Laser Foundation offers free psychiatric consultations, and scholarships for qualifying veterans struggling with suicidal thoughts, memory loss, rage and more

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Denver, CO (May 25, 2015) — The Neuro-Laser Foundation invites active and retired military personnel struggling with symptoms and effects resulting from traumatic brain injury (TBI) to participate in a new scientific trial studying a non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical “neuro-laser” treatment.

In recognition of May being “National Military Appreciation Month,” and ongoing until July 4th, Co-Founder Theodore Henderson, MD, PhD, is also offering to give free psychiatric consultations to military personnel diagnosed with possible TBI-related behavioral conditions such as depression, PTSD, memory loss and bouts with rage. These individuals may also qualify for scholarships to undergo the neuro-laser treatment for the TBI trial.

“Many times, people — even doctors — get overly focused on treating the symptoms because they can be severe, and overlook a possible traumatic brain injury,” said Dr. Henderson, who helped researchers distinguish between TBI and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a landmark study last year, ranking No. 19 of 100 of the Top Medical Discoveries of the Year by Discover Magazine. “The biggest problem is mis-directed pharmaceutical treatments that can do more harm to the damaged brain than good. We really hope to contribute to a reduction of the ’22’ veterans who commit suicide every day.”

Dr. Henderson defined the “neuro-laser” treatment as a proprietary method that involves transcranial applications of a high-powered, multi-watt near-infrared light (NILT) to areas of brain injury. The non-invasive neuro-laser penetrates the scalp and skull with no skin irritation to regenerate damaged brains cells by activating numerous brain reparative processes, including the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, the brain’s own repair system.

Mounting scientific evidence shows patients receiving this treatment are experiencing dramatic improvements in their conditions. In the past year, Dr. Henderson, and fellow neuroscientist and Co-Founder Dr. Larry Morries, have published six related studies peer-reviewed journals, outlining the efficacy of NILT on TBI patients. The most recent study, “Multi-watt near-infrared light therapy as a neuroregenerative treatment for traumatic brain injury” published earlier this month in the Neural Regeneration Research, and is cited in the National Library of Congress (Pubmed).

The TBI Trial is partially underwritten by the “Say Goodbye TBI” campaign introduced last year, which is raising donations for qualifying military veterans to receive the neuro-laser treatment.

For Eric Medina, from Boulder, CO and a disabled U.S. Air Force Veteran, the improvement in his condition can be seen in brain scans (see Image and Description below), and in his improving cognitive functions. In 1983, Eric received a moderate TBI as the result of a motor vehicle accident while on active duty. He was in a coma for two months and was airlifted from Europe to a rehabilitation facility in California. He had injury to his right temporal lobe and portions of his right frontal cortex which gave him language and speech-related problems, difficulty walking, low moods, irritability, sleep disturbances and recurrent headaches. 

“I can really notice the changes in a visceral and intellectual sense. My writing has gotten better, and my reading comprehension is really improving,” Medina said.

“The astonishing changes we saw in both the brain scans, and patients’ behaviors showed our method has sufficient merit to warrant a broader-scope research,” Dr. Henderson said. “For our TBI Trial, we are already receiving patients from various parts of the world seeking help from their TBI.”

Donations are needed to support this research, according to Dr. Henderson. “We want to offer scholarships for military veterans while affording to expand our research on the efficacy and possible applications for NILT.”

The Neuro-Laser Foundation (NLF) is a non-profit organization, based in Denver, Colorado, dedicated to transforming lives of those with psychiatric and neurological conditions, some resulting from traumatic brain injury (TBI). Building on more than 30 years of studying the effects of near-infrared light on cells and tissues, the Foundation is advancing technology and treatment approaches that will increase quality of life factors for people impacted by traumatic brain injury.

More information is available at TBI.care or calling (720) 493-1101.

Image:

spect-before-after

Image Description — Eric Medina’s brain scans, using SPECT imaging, show increased blood flow to previously damaged tissue after receiving the “neuro-laser” treatments. Views of the brain from above (superior) are on the left and from the right side are on the right. Areas of light blue, dark blue, and black represent 2, 3, and 4 standard deviations below the patient’s mean cerebral blood flow. The area of anatomical damage is indicated by the light blue arrow. Areas surrounding the permanent lesion and also in the opposite side of the brain show improved function after treatment.

 

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