An urgent call has been put out this week, seeking Australian volunteers to assess the efficacy of infrared light therapy for Parkinson’s disease in a groundbreaking randomised trial.
Dr Ann Liebert, co-ordinator of Photomolecular Research at the SAN Hospital and adjunct senior lecturer at the University of Sydney, and her colleagues, are looking for 40 volunteers between the ages of 60 to 85 with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease, to take part in the 6-month trial.
Professor Hosen Kiat, the senior investigator of the laser research team and Professor of Cardiology at Macquarie University, says that half of the trial participants will receive infrared light therapy to the head and neck via a helmet device, three times a week for 24 minutes per session. The other half of the trial participants will use a similar device that will not actually emit infrared light (placebo).
At the end of the 12 weeks the trial will be unblinded and those who were in the placebo arm of the trial will be offered the active treatment for an additional 12 weeks if they wish.
The trial is due to begin in October this year.
Professor Kiat said they were very confident that, based on the previous Parkinson’s disease trial using a handheld laser device, that this trial would achieve measurable outcome results with gross motor movement, fine motor function, writing and walking.
“Parkinson’s disease makes people either too painful or too tired or too stiff to move,” Professor Kiat said.
“Pain is an early symptom of Parkinson’s disease, and we feel that improvement in these two areas alone, movement and the reduction of pain, would be a major step towards improvement of quality of life.”
Surfers Health Medical Centre health and wellness writer Suvi Mahonen caught up with Professor Kiat this week to learn more about the trial:
If you are interested in taking part in the trial, you can contact Dr Liebert at her Northshore Musculoskeletal and Laser Physiotherapy Clinic on (02) 9419 3404 or email: pbmtrials@gmail.com
You can learn more about Dr Liebert and her team’s research here: Light therapy and Parkinson’s – SYMBYX Biome
Suvi Mahonen is a Surfers Paradise-based journalist. Her work appears in The Australian, the Australian Quarterly, Mamamia and other health and lifestyle publications. Follow her on Facebook, YouTube and online art-selling platform Redbubble.
I live in Sydney is that ok. If so I would be interested. As tremors getting worse
Hi Alan 🙂
Yes, that is perfectly okay that you live in Sydney 🙂 Please do phone Dr Liebert on: (02) 9419 3404 or email: pbmtrials@gmail.com and let her know that you would like to apply 🙂
Yes, I would be really interested to take part in your proposed trial Though I would prefer not to have the
placebo. I live in Noosa Heads QLD . I hope that will not be a problem,
Kind regards
John Lough
Hi John 🙂
Send them an email and let them know you are interested. They are looking for volunteers throughout Australia, so Noosa is not a problem at all 🙂
Their contact details are: (02) 9419 3404 or email: pbmtrials@gmail.com
I am 71 years old female with Parkinsons disease I need assistance with walking either a walking frame or a stick and need to sit down when I am preparing a meal as I have no stamina in my legs. I have no problems with my speech nor sense of smell but occasionally have problem problems. My hands/body does not shake. I live at 5 Blair Avenue, East Hills 2213, Sydney, My MOB is 04301 32523 I could arrange a Support Worker to accompany me to any proposed trial sessions you run. If I have understood 3 x25mins or so each week. I would prefer not to have the placebo, please.
My email is leonarajak@gmail.com
Yours sincerely Leonara JAKSEN
Hi Leonara, please contact the researchers on (02) 9419 3404 or email: pbmtrials@gmail.com and let them know you would like to apply to participate in the trial 🙂
Dear all,
Firstly i want to thank Suvi for continuing to push the boundaries through brave, creative and insightful journalism! We need more independent thinkers to bring new science to the benefit of patients as big pharmaceutical companies have a lot of power and influence.
Secondly, it is important for readers to understand that you cannot request entry to a trial and with a preference for requirement for treatment over placebo. This would defeat the entire purpose of the trial if a patient knew in advance that they were receiving the real treatment – ie, they might react more positively than otherwise. Blinded, placebo therefore by design means that no-one knows for the benefit of trial data quality by the end.
Thirdly, as CEO of SYMBYX and a close colleague of Dr Liebert, i am really happy to inform all of Suvi’s readers that you don’t need to be part of the trial to benefit from this research. SYMBYX (www.symbyxbiome) already has a laser therapy available in Australia, which is TGA approved, and helping hundreds of PD patients. No-other medical device company in the world is able to or even allowed to sell this therapy since SYMBYX owns the patent from the therapy system. The new trial (announced on channel 9 news) is for a separate helmet device that we intend to list with TGA early in 2022 and a supplemental treatment that would work together with our PDCare Laser. The laser provides most of the benefit in any case so is the logical starting point for any interested patient. By the way, SYMBYX (and Dr Liebert) will be screened again (this time with South Australian patients) on Channel 7’s House of Wellness program at 2pm on 19th November and 12 pm on 21st November 2021.
I hope this clarifies a few of the questions raised in this blog and appreciate all of your support and interest.
…oops Leonara Jaksen again… I should have written occasionally have MEMORY problems
Hi,
My name is Therese Bechara, I am 76 years old and have been diagnoised with early Parkinsons. I am interested in the Infrared Light Therapy and see if it will help my condition.
Hi Therese, please do contact the researchers and let them know you would like to apply to participate 🙂
Their contact details are:(02) 9419 3404 or email: pbmtrials@gmail.com
🙂
my name is Dr. David Tan I am a Gp. my contact number is 0419251852. my address is 21 Eulbertie Ave, Warrawee NSW2074. I am interested to participate in the trial of infra red light for parkinson
Hi David, please do contact the researchers and let them know you would like to apply to participate 🙂
Their contact details are:(02) 9419 3404 or email: pbmtrials@gmail.com
All the very best, and I hope you are selected! Suvi 🙂
Hi Suvi, I just wanted to let your viewers know that the PDCare Laser device to be used in the trail can be bought online via http://www.symbyxbiome.com and shipped via DHL Express worldwide or within Australia. I believe the trial is now fully subscribed, which is great, so for those people who missed out, they may want to buy the device for themselves today. Please visit our website to buy or send an email with any of your questions to info@symbyxbiome.com
In addition to the Sydney based trial, there is also a photobiomodulation/parkinsons trial kicking off in Toronto, Canada shortly. Hope that information is helpful to your viewers.
Best, Wayne Markman, CEO, SYMBYX Pty Ltd.
Thank you so much for the information, Wayne 🙂
That’s great!
All the very best for the trial, and I look forward to reporting on the results 🙂
My name is Delycia Casson, I am 78 years old and was diagnosed with early Parkinson’s some 2 years ago. I would like to volunteer for the New trial Testing Infrared Light Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease commencing in October this year. I have mild to moderate Parkinson’s Disease and suffer with lethargy and slowness during the afternoons.
My email is: delycia1@hotmail.com and mobile : 0412918964
If I am not successful could you let me know as to how I can find out the results of this test.
Hi Delycia 🙂
I apologise for the delay in my response. I have been away, travelling.
We will update our readers on the results of the trial when they come in, so you can find out more information on this blog.
I understand they are extending the trial, but I think they have enough volunteers now.