The cited paper is real and the DOI is correct. Saltmarche AE, Naeser MA, Ho KF, Hamblin MR, Lim L, "Significant Improvement in Cognition in Mild to Moderately Severe Dementia Cases Treated with Transcranial Plus Intranasal Photobiomodulation: Case Series Report," Photomedicine and Laser Surgery 2017 Aug;35(8):432-441, doi: 10.1089/pho.2016.4227, investigated whether patients with mild to moderately severe dementia or possible Alzheimer's disease with Mini-Mental State Exam baseline scores of 10 to 24 would improve when treated with near-infrared photobiomodulation therapy . The study used 810 nm, 10 Hz pulsed light-emitting diode devices combining transcranial plus intranasal PBM to treat cortical nodes of the default mode network .

The reported results match the claim's description. Significant p values of less than 0.003 on the MMSE and less than 0.023 on the ADAS-cog were observed after 12 weeks of active PBM treatment, and the improved test scores were supported by quality of life feedback from patients and caregivers . Improvements were noted in functional abilities such as decreased incontinence and increased mobility, sleep, fewer angry outbursts, less anxiety, and wandering .

The critical missing detail is the study design and size. A protocol document filed with ClinicalTrials.gov describes it as an early pilot study using a prior version of the Vielight Neuro technology in 5 patients with mild-to-severe dementia, with broad inclusion criteria because the study was intended to identify potentially promising patient subpopulations . Although there were no negative side effects, there were precipitous declines in cognitive function during the 4-week follow-up period without treatment.

The paper carries a direct commercial conflict of interest. Per the PubMed disclosure, authors were paid consultants for the study and L.L. was the Founder and CEO of Vielight, Inc., while M.A.N. and M.R.H. reported no financial or conflicting interest .

The follow-up study cited in the caption is also real. Chao's 2019 pilot trial sought to replicate a previously published case series describing improved cognitive function in five patients after 12 weeks of transcranial and intranasal NIR PBM, and randomized eight participants with a mean age of 79.8 years to 12 weeks of usual care (n=4) or home PBM treatments (n=4) .

Context the post omits: later, better-controlled trials of the same technology have not confirmed the benefit. A follow-up trial completed in January 2021 tested active versus sham 40 Hz treatment for 16 weeks in 14 Alzheimer's patients with a primary outcome of change in ADAS-Cog, and results posted on clinicaltrials.gov indicate no changes with treatment in cognition or in biomarkers of Aβ42, tau, and neurofilament light . A 60-person study of moderate to severe Alzheimer's comparing active to sham home treatment at two Ontario sites was completed in February 2022, and no results have been made public . A pivotal trial of the 40 Hz device planned to enroll 228 participants with severe dementia for active versus sham treatment.