Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects communication, behavior, and social interaction in millions of children worldwide. While traditional therapies focus on behavioral and educational interventions, recent pilot studies suggest that light-based therapies — specifically transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM) — may offer a safe, non-invasive complement to existing treatments. A new randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial led by Fradkin et al. (2024) explores whether pulsed near-infrared light can reduce ASD symptoms in children aged 2–6 years. The objective of the study was to examine the effect of tPBM on the behavioral symptoms of ASD and brain electrophysiology in children aged 2–6.
What the Study Found: Presentation of Results
In this study, thirty children with diagnosed ASD were randomly assigned to receive either active tPBM or a sham treatment twice weekly for eight weeks. The active treatment used a device to deliver pulsed nearinfrared light at 850 nm and 40 Hz directly to selected scalp regions for approximately 20 minutes per session. Researchers monitored safety throughout, noting no moderate or severe side effects, and collected electroencephalogram (EEG) data from the subset of participants who tolerated the EEG cap to explore neural changes alongside behavioral outcomes.
- Behavioral Improvement: Children in the active tPBM group showed a significantly greater reduction in ASD severity as measured by the Childhood Autism Rating Scale – 2nd Edition (CARS-2). The mean difference in score change between active and sham groups was 7.23 points (95% CI 2.36 to 12.11; p = 0.011).
- EEG Trends: Among the seventeen participants with usable EEG data, there was a trend toward decreased delta‐wave power and increased theta‐wave power over time in the active group compared to sham (delta: Coef = 7.52, p = 0.07; theta: Coef = –8.29, p = 0.07). Additionally, theta‐wave power was significantly higher overall in the treatment group (net_theta Coef = 9.55; 95% CI 0.03 to 19.07; p = 0.049).
- Safety Profile: No participants experienced moderate or severe adverse effects, underscoring the tolerability of tPBM at this young age group.
Our Takeaway from this Clinical Trial Study
This pilot trial provides encouraging evidence that transcranial photobiomodulation may safely reduce core ASD symptoms and modulate neural activity in preschool-aged children. The observed behavioral gains, coupled with EEG changes suggestive of more mature brainwave patterns, point to a potential neuromodulatory mechanism of action. However, as a small study, these findings warrant confirmation in larger, multi-site trials to establish optimal dosing, long-term efficacy, and any subgroup differences. If replicated, tPBM could become a valuable adjunct to conventional ASD therapies, offering families a non-drug, well-tolerated option to support developmental progress.
Reference:
Fradkin Y, De Taboada L, Naeser M, Saltmarche A, Snyder W, Steingold E. Transcranial photobiomodulation in children aged 2–6 years: a randomized sham-controlled clinical trial assessing safety, efficacy, and impact on autism spectrum disorder symptoms and brain electrophysiology. Frontiers in Neurology. 2024;15:1221193. doi:10.3389/fneur.2024.1221193