Research and videos
Red-light therapy (photobiomodulation): the research and Kevin's videos
Does red-light (near-infrared) therapy for the brain work, and which device should I use?
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This page has no results from Phoenix members yet. It shows what published research says, and what Kevin and the experts say in his videos.
See what Phoenix members have measuredDoes red-light (near-infrared) therapy for the brain work, and which device should I use?
Brain light therapy may improve thinking test scores a little in people with memory problems: many small, short trials point the same way, but they used different devices and none shows it prevents Alzheimer's. It appears low-risk in those trials. Whether it protects an APOE4 carrier's brain is too early to say.
What the research says
Grade CAPOE4-specific evidence: none
Small sham-controlled trials suggest near-infrared light to the head may improve memory and thinking scores in people with cognitive impairment (low-certainty evidence); the effect on amyloid is shown only in animals.
Key studies
Zhu 2025, Lasers Med SciGrade C
24 small randomized trials (820 people): light therapy improved global cognition and working memory vs sham.
Read on PubMed (opens in a new tab)Xu 2026, Lasers Med SciGrade C
Network meta-analysis in Alzheimer's: light therapy ranked highest for MMSE and ADAS-Cog, but was clearly better than magnetic stimulation only on ADAS-Cog (MMSE gap narrowly missed significance).
Read on PubMed (opens in a new tab)Chun 2025, Photobiomodul Photomed Laser SurgGrade C
Home device for 12 weeks in 26 people with MCI: better MoCA than sham, no serious side effects.
Read on PubMed (opens in a new tab)
1 more key study
Zhao 2022, J Alzheimers DisGrade C
Five days of light therapy in subjective cognitive decline: better working-memory test, no sleep difference vs sham.
Read on PubMed (opens in a new tab)
What Kevin and experts say
6 passages for, 2 with a caution
Now showing: Dr. Kevin Tran · 0:33
Open on YouTube (opens in a new tab)For6 passages
Early user reports are encouraging but not proof.
“In early user reports, some users saw signs of measurable improvement in just weeks.”
Dr. Kevin Tran, Founder of The Phoenix Community, Doctor of Pharmacy, APOE4/4 carrier
Low risk, possible upside: a no-regrets option.
“at worst it doesn't do anything and at best it actually can prevent or help against Alzheimer's.”
Dr. Kevin Tran, Founder of The Phoenix Community, Doctor of Pharmacy, APOE4/4 carrier
User reports are positive but anecdotal.
“a lot of people kind of experiencing memory improvement, emotional regulation improvement, sleep improvements.”
Chris Garvin, Neuronic, brain photobiomodulation (near-infrared light) device company
Red light cut amyloid in animals, more so in sleep.
“In animal studies, photobiomodulation reduced beta-amyloid brain accumulation more effectively during the sleep.”
Dr. Kevin Tran, Founder of The Phoenix Community, Doctor of Pharmacy, APOE4/4 carrier
Morning photobiomodulation left him focused and steady.
“I feel more steady in the morning with it.”
John Yoder, Phoenix member, retired physician, APOE3/4 carrier
She found the light helmet helpful.
“having the helmet is for me has been helpful”
Donna Dorrance, Phoenix member and APOE4/4 carrier, aged 72
With a caution2 passages
More light is not better.
“it's not a case of more is necessarily better. So, there is a kind of a bell curve with diminishing returns.”
Chris Garvin, Neuronic, brain photobiomodulation (near-infrared light) device company
Too much light therapy in a day may overstimulate.
“there is a possibility of by doing too much light therapy in a day that maybe a risk that's very rare and transient nature of over stimulation”
Paola Telfer, Founder and CEO of Sens.ai (neurofeedback headset), electrical engineer
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