Sunlight and MS
MS stands for multiple sclerosis, which is a disease of the central nervous system, namely the brain and spinal cord. The initial symptoms often involve visual impairment or changes in sensation in an arm or leg. The disease is autoimmune in nature, meaning it is caused by the body’s own immune system attacking the myelin sheaths that electrically insulate nerve fibers. This allows the disease to progress for quite some time before symptoms appear. Since the disease is autoimmune, it’s easy to imagine how a better and more specific immune response is crucial. One of the strongest effects of sunlight is precisely that. Therefore, it’s not surprising that the risk of developing MS increases with distance from the equator. Near the equator, the Earth receives the highest sunlight exposure, and those living there have the highest sun exposure. This means that the risk of getting MS in countries around the equator is very low or even non-existent, whereas in countries like Sweden, where sun exposure is much lower, the prevalence is relatively high (1).
The occurrence of certain diseases is related to latitude (sun exposure)
Does Red Light Therapy Help with MS?
The answer to that question is most likely yes. I would never dare to raise hopes for those affected if I didn’t also have research to support my answer. There is a very good review article on red light therapy and MS (2). In it, the authors go through the current state of research, and they come to several conclusions. They mention, for example, that light therapy calms down the immune system so that the disease does not progress as quickly. At the same time, the regeneration of neurons is also accelerated, which in practice offers hope that the damage caused by the disease can even be repaired. RLT has also been shown to alleviate the consequences of the disease, such as motor problems, pain, and deterioration of speech and vision. The collective research shows that inflammation in patients decreases, which in itself makes the disease less aggressive, and therefore, their physical condition improves. In animal studies, RLT has been shown to delay the onset of the disease, and the authors of the article conclude that RLT can be an effective complementary treatment to the medications and disease-modifying therapies available today. Studies in mice have also shown that the buildup of myelin sheaths in the brain could increase with RLT, and perhaps it’s a smart idea to administer RLT directly into the brain (3)? If I were personally affected, I would definitely consider RLT as an aid, and in combination with other treatments such as the exclusion of foods causing type 3 allergies, exercise, disease-modifying drugs, stress management, etc., it will likely have a positive impact. You can also consider that an improved general condition with increased energy levels and exercise capacity will make a big difference. We know that exercise can help those affected, and a combination of strength training and cardiovascular exercise at a reasonable intensity is preferred. Higher energy levels will also make the outlook on life more positive, and it will also affect disease progression. Depression and mood disorders are often consequences of the diagnosis, and it is also likely to worsen the disease.
- Steve Simpson Jr 1 2, Wendy Wang 3 4, Peter Otahal 2, Leigh Blizzard 2, Ingrid A F van der Mei 2, Bruce V Taylor 2. Latitude continues to be significantly associated with the prevalence of multiple sclerosis: an updated meta-analysis. 2019 Nov;90(11):1193-1200. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2018-320189. Epub 2019 Jun 19. Meta-Analysis J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry.
- Nikoo Hossein-Khannazer 1, Mandana Kazem Arki 2, Aliasghar Keramatinia 3 4, Mostafa Rezaei-Tavirani 5. The Role of Low-Level Laser Therapy in the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis: A Review Study. J Lasers Med Sci. 2021 Dec 28;12:e88. doi: 10.34172/jlms.2021.88
- Katherine Chuere Nunes Duarte 1, Thaís Torres Soares 1, Angela Maria Paiva Magri 1, Lívia Assis Garcia 1, Luciana Le Sueur-Maluf 1, Ana Cláudia Muniz Renno 2, Gláucia Monteiro de Castro 3. Low-level laser therapy modulates demyelination in mice. J Photochem Photobiol B. 2018 Dec;189:55-65. doi: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2018.09.024. Epub 2018 Oct 3.
Author: Fredrik Paulún
