Brain PBM (Vielight)

What is it?

The Vielight Neuro Duo from the Canadian company Vielight is a light helmet with a small attachment for the nose. It works with photobiomodulation: near-infrared light at 810 nanometers is meant to reach the brain through the skull and through the olfactory mucosa, where it is supposed to support the mitochondria and reduce inflammation.

In gamma mode, the light pulses at 40 hertz. Gamma waves in the brain are often reduced in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, and in animal studies 40-hertz stimulation reduced pathological protein deposits. The alpha mode at 10 hertz is meant to be relaxing.

What does the research say?

There are now a number of studies on light therapy to the head in Parkinson's, but mostly with devices other than the Vielight:

• Australia, 2021: Twelve patients received light on the head, nose, neck and abdomen for twelve weeks. Motor function and other symptoms improved, without a control group (BMC Neurology).
• Australia, 2023: In a study with 40 patients and the light helmet from SYMBYX, motor function improved by almost a quarter in both groups, so also with sham treatment. But about 70 percent of those who got the real treatment responded clearly.
• 2025: A randomized study with 38 patients found better stability and everyday function after twelve weeks of light therapy to the head.
• Vielight itself has mainly studied its device in dementia.

My experience

Since November 6, 2021, I have been using the Vielight Neuro Duo three times a week in gamma mode, for 20 minutes each time. Since May 2023, I have also owned the Neuro Helm from SYMBYX. Since the summer of 2026, I have also been using the Vielight Vagus, which stimulates the vagus nerve with light and is meant to calm me a little. I have had no side effects. I describe how I combine the helmet with an LED panel under Red Light Therapy.

Difference from PDCare

• Vielight (Brain PBM): targets the brain directly, through the skull and through the nose.
• PDCare: targets the abdomen and neck, so the gut-brain axis.

I use both because they complement each other.

Effort and costs

No health insurance covers the costs. The current version, the Neuro Duo 4, costs about 2,400 US dollars from the manufacturer (September 2026).

My conclusion

The Vielight helmet is a fixed part of my routine, comfortable and well tolerated. Scientifically, however, its effect in Parkinson's has not been proven yet.