Photobiomodulation and Autism

 Schematic diagrams of the major abnormalities evident in autism (A; left side) as compared to normal, and after photobiomodulation treatment (B; right side). Autism is characterised by an altered microbiome in the gastrointestinal system (red star-like shapes), decrease in size of cerebellum and cerebellar cell number, increase in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in brain (yellow shade) and blood plasma, gliosis and inflammation in brain (pink cells), macrocephaly (increase in size of cortex), decrease in activity of long-range connectivity in cortex (thin red arrows), synaptic imbalance in brain, imbalance of functional connectivity, dysfunction and oxidative stress in brain (red cells) and increase in local interconnectivity in cortex (thick red arrows). We hypothesise that many if not all of these abnormalities will improve after photobiomodulation treatment to the head and to the abdomen (green cells and arrows). In particular, photobiomodulation will prompt; an increase in mitochondrial function, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels and gene expression, a reduction of oxidative stress, inflammation and gliosis, a restoration of cell homeostasis and growth factor levels, together with a restoration of a balanced functional activity across the brain.