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Health Sciences

Light Therapy for Brain Injuries

Research has long examined how different wavelengths of light aid wound healing. A recent study in the journal Radiology indicates that low-level light therapy (LLLT) may also help heal significant brain injuries. Massachusetts General Hospital researchers conducted LLLT on 38 patients with moderate traumatic brain injuries, which affect cognition or show up on brain scans. Using a helmet that emits near-infrared light, they administered the therapy within 72 hours of injury.

“Near-infrared light penetrates the skull well,” said Dr. Rajiv Gupta, co-lead author from the Department of Radiology at Mass General. “The helmet bathes the entire brain in light.” The researchers used functional MRI to measure the therapy's impact, focusing on the brain’s resting-state functional connectivity—communication between brain regions when at rest.

They compared MRI results across three recovery phases: acute (within one week), subacute (two to three weeks), and late-subacute (three months). Of the 38 patients, 21 did not receive light therapy to serve as controls. Patients who received LLLT showed greater changes in resting-state connectivity in seven brain region pairs during the acute-to-subacute phase compared to the control group.

“Increased connectivity was seen mainly in the first two weeks,” said study coauthor Nathaniel Mercaldo, Ph.D. The next step is to study long-term effects. The exact mechanism of LLLT's effect on the brain remains unknown, but previous research suggests it alters an enzyme in the cell’s mitochondria, leading to more production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a key energy molecule. LLLT is also associated with blood vessel dilation and anti-inflammatory effects.

The 810-nanometer-wavelength light used in the study is safe, easy to administer, and does not require surgery or medications. The helmet's portability allows for use outside hospital settings. According to Dr. Gupta, LLLT may help treat other neurological conditions, such as PTSD, depression, and autism. As more research emerges, the role of light therapy is likely to expand.

(SOURCE: Radiology, published by the Radiological Society of North America)

Culture

Colorado’s Strangest Race

There are some unusual traditions, and one of them is pack burro racing, Colorado’s official state summer heritage sport since 2012. This sport began in 1949 with the World Championship Pack Burro Race, running from Leadville to Fairplay. The original 23-mile race over Mosquito Pass echoed the routes miners and their burros used before the railroads were built in the 1870s.

Pack burro racing harks back to mining days when prospectors raced to stake claims. To attract tourists and revive the local economy post-World War II, the Fairplay Chamber of Commerce organized the first event, drawing 21 teams. Each team, consisting of a human and a donkey, followed strict rules: the human held a lead rope, and the donkey wore a pack saddle loaded with traditional mining gear. Riding the burro is never permitted.

Only eight teams completed the inaugural race, with Melville Sutton and his burro, Whitey, winning a $500 prize. The race’s popularity grew, nearly doubling in participants by 1955. Today, Colorado hosts a Triple Crown of pack burro racing in Fairplay, Leadville, and Buena Vista, covering about 63 miles in total. The state offers ten races from Memorial Day through September, with other states like California, Arizona, and New Mexico also hosting races.

Runners aged 16 and older can race with their own donkey or rent one. The Triple Crown series starts in Fairplay during Burro Days, with races varying in distance and elevation. Leadville hosts its race the first weekend in August, featuring a loop around Ball Mountain or a route to Mosquito Pass. Buena Vista added a 13-mile race to its Gold Rush Days celebration in 1978.

Donkeys, capable of carrying 20 to 30 percent of their body weight over tough terrain, enjoy having a job. The challenge is convincing them to race. Once they understand the task, they develop a liking for it and will work hard if they trust their handler.

Environment

‘Walking Tree’ is Named 2024 Tree of the Year

A Metrosideros robusta, known as “The Walking Tree,” has been named New Zealand’s 2024 Tree of the Year by the New Zealand Arboricultural Association. This distinctive tree, with its leg-like trunks, is located near a cemetery on South Island and resembles the walking Ents from Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.

“Nominated by Bryan Bell, The Walking Tree was recognized for its unique form and striking presence,” said the Association. “Its twin trunks appear to be in mid-stride, resembling high heels.” Registered on The New Zealand Tree Registry, the northern rātā won with 42% of the votes among six finalists. The tree’s age remains uncertain, but northern rātās can live up to 1,000 years, starting as epiphytes and eventually enveloping their host trees.

The third annual Tree of the Year campaign celebrates the vital role trees play in communities, enhancing environments and providing a sense of place for generations. “The Walking Tree exemplifies the unique and diverse trees in New Zealand,” said the Association’s president, Richie Hill. “It’s a must-see destination.”

Mind Stretchers 

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No matter how little or how much you use me, you change me every month. What am I?

The answer to yesterday’s Mind Stretcher was:
$90. ( $45. + $5 = $50, $40 left; $20 + $4 = $24, $16 left; $8 + $3 = $11, $5 left ).

Eugene Hostetler got the correct answer first!

Be the first to send us the correct answer for today’s mind stretcher for a shout-out with the answer tomorrow. Just send us the answer and your name to [email protected] or reply to this email.

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