Photobiomodulation of hippocampal neurogenesis for inducing resilience against Alzheimer’s disease

Adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) is the process by which neural stem cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus proliferate and differentiate to form new granule neurons that integrate into hippocampal circuitry, facilitating hippocampal plasticity throughout life. AHN is severely diminished in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but its preservation is linked to cognitive resilience in the presence of AD neuropathologic change. Photobiomodulation (PBM), also known as low-level light therapy, has previously been shown to improve cognitive function and reduce neuropathology in animal models of AD, and has been shown to improve neurogenesis in models of stroke and traumatic brain injury. In our studies we use transcranial PBM in the form of continuous-wave light-emitting diodes, and pulsed laser, in animal models of Alzheimer’s disease as a therapeutic intervention after disease progression, and as a preventive treatment prior to initiating disease conditions. In both cases we see increases in hippocampal neural stem cells, and in the case of our advanced AD model we find improved cognition. These results suggest that transcranial PBM has potential to be developed into a therapy which could bolster resilience in hippocampal neural stem cells to prevent or improve cognitive dysfunction in AD.

Name thesis:degree_name

Neuroscience (Doctoral)

Grantor

The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Johnson, Kevin 1994-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Micci, Maria-Adelaide (mmicci@utmb.edu)

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Giulio Taglialatela (gtaglial@utmb.edu)
• Rinat Esenaliev (riesenal@utmb.edu)
• Gracie Vargas (grvargas@utmb.edu)
• Dongsheng Cai (dongsheng.cai@einsteinmed.edu)

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/2152.3/12831

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:utmb-ir.tdl.org:2152.3/12831