Photobiomodulation therapy-induced volumetric brain changes on patients with depression
Poster Session D - Monday, March 31, 2025, 8:00 – 10:00 am EDT, Back Bay Ballroom/Republic Ballroom
Puneet Velidi1,2 (pvelidi@uvic.ca), Guillermo Gonzalez-Garibay1,2, Carlos Lohmann1,2, Borja Ferreras1,2, Fabio Luchese1,2, Akila Weerasekera1,2, Stefani Kalli1,2, Paolo Cassano1,2; 1Massachusetts General Hospital, 2Harvard Medical School
Background: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a common mental health condition associated with mood disturbances, cognitive impairment, and structural brain abnormalities in critical regions for emotional regulation. Transcranial Photobiomodulation (t-PBM), which uses non-ionizing light wavelengths to stimulate brain function, has shown potential in enhancing mitochondrial activity, increasing cellular energy, and supporting neuroplasticity. Its effects on brain structure in MDD remain largely unexplored. Methods: As a part of the TRIADE R61 trial, t-PBM was delivered to 34 total subjects with MDD across two sites (NYU & MGH) with a randomized dose (including sham) at four time points, each one week apart. T1 images were acquired using a Siemens Magnetom 3.0T Trio MRI at each time point; after image QC, 23 subjects’ scans were included. We used Voxel-based Morphometry (VBM) in SPM12 to capture longitudinal structural changes between the first and last scans of the included subjects. Pre-processing and segmentation was performed using CAT12’s longitudinal segmentation pipeline optimized for detecting small changes. Results: Significant (p<0.05) volumetric changes before FWE-correction were observed in the left cerebellum, with no significant alterations detected in cortical or subcortical regions. No voxels survived FWE-correction. Conclusion: These findings suggest that t-PBM may promote neuroplasticity in the cerebellum, potentially through mechanisms involving mitochondrial enhancement and synaptic remodeling. The left-lateralized changes suggest the cerebellum's role in mood regulation and its potential as a target for neuromodulation. This study provides preliminary evidence supporting t-PBM as a promising therapeutic intervention for MDD, warranting further investigation into its clinical significance.
Topic Area: EMOTION & SOCIAL: Other
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March 29–April 1 | 2025
