Light-Based Brain Stimulation Shows Potential to Reduce Alcohol Craving and Dependence
Digital therapeutics utilizing photobiomodulation and neural stimulation offer new hope for addiction treatment
A domestic research team has found that simply stimulating the head with light can reduce the desire to drink alcohol.
This case demonstrates the potential for developing digital therapeutics that utilize light and brainwaves for addiction treatment.
The team led by Professor Jeong Dongil from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at UNIST, in collaboration with Professor Jung Youngcheol from Severance Hospital at Yonsei University College of Medicine, Professor Choi Jeongseok from Samsung Medical Center at Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, and Professor Ahn Wooyoung from the Department of Psychology at Seoul National University, conducted a clinical trial.
Jeong Dongil UNIST Professor.
The study confirmed that transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM), which stimulates the brain with light, can reduce both alcohol craving and dependence.
A total of three groups participated in the trial. One group received only transcranial photobiomodulation, another group received only transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), and the last group received a combination of both. The stimulation was administered using the 'iSyncWave' device developed by iMediSync. Participants self-administered the treatment at home for 15 minutes a day, at least five times a week, over five weeks.
The clinical results were clear. The group that received only vagus nerve stimulation showed no significant changes. In contrast, both the group that received light stimulation and the group that received the combination therapy showed a significant reduction in alcohol craving. Furthermore, in these two groups, alcohol dependence itself was also reduced.
This study is significant as it goes beyond the limitations of conventional medication- and counseling-based treatments. Professor Jeong Dongil stated, "This is the first time it has been demonstrated that transcranial photobiomodulation can simultaneously reduce craving and dependence," adding, "It can also be applied for brain management in patients for whom medication is difficult or for the prevention of alcohol-related problems."
The results of this study were released at the International Conference of the Korean Society for Brain and Neural Sciences, held in Songdo, Incheon, from August 24 to 27.
The research team also announced plans to develop a customized digital therapeutic device that combines both types of stimulation. They intend to expand this into an addiction management system optimized for regional and individual circumstances through the commercialization of the device.
This research was supported by the STEAM Research Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea under the Ministry of Science and ICT.
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