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Pittsburgh, PA — A groundbreaking study led by scientists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC has uncovered a potential new approach to reducing the risk of blood clots, which can lead to serious conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, and lung damage. The research, published in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, reveals that exposure to long-wavelength red light significantly lowers blood clot formation in both humans and mice.
The findings, which still require verification through clinical trials, suggest that red light could become an inexpensive and effective therapy to prevent the formation of blood clots in veins and arteries — one of the leading causes of preventable death worldwide.
Lead author Dr. Elizabeth Andraska, assistant professor of surgery at the University of Pittsburgh, explained, “The light we’re exposed to can change our biological processes and affect our health. Our findings could lead to a relatively inexpensive therapy that would benefit millions of people.”
A New Insight into Light and Health
Scientists have long understood the impact of light on human health. The rising and setting of the sun affect metabolism, hormone secretion, and blood flow. Heart attacks and strokes, for example, are more likely to occur in the morning hours than at night. Dr. Andraska and her team hypothesized that light exposure might also play a role in blood clot formation.
To test this hypothesis, the researchers exposed mice to a 72-hour cycle of 12 hours of red, blue, or white light, followed by 12 hours of darkness. The results were striking: mice exposed to red light had nearly five times fewer blood clots than those exposed to blue or white light. The animals’ activity, sleep, weight, and body temperature remained consistent across the groups, suggesting that it was the light exposure itself, not other factors, that contributed to the reduction in clot formation.
Red Light and Blood Clots in Humans
The team also analyzed data from over 10,000 patients who had undergone cataract surgery and received either conventional lenses, which transmit the full visible light spectrum, or blue light-filtering lenses. Cancer patients who received the blue-light-filtering lenses were found to have a lower risk of blood clots compared to those with conventional lenses, even though cancer patients are generally at much higher risk for clotting.
“This study is unraveling an exciting mystery about how the light we encounter daily influences our body’s response to injury and clot formation,” said Dr. Matthew Neal, senior author of the study. “Our next steps will be to explore the biological mechanisms behind these findings and test whether red light exposure can lower clot risk in people who are at high risk for such events.”
The Science Behind the Findings
The study identified the optic pathway as central to the observed effects. Red light exposure did not affect blood clotting in blind mice, nor did shining light directly on blood samples yield any change in clot formation. The team noted that red light was associated with reduced inflammation and immune system activation, both of which play significant roles in clotting. Mice exposed to red light showed fewer neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which are web-like structures that can capture platelets and contribute to clot formation.
Furthermore, red light exposure increased the production of fatty acids, which are known to reduce platelet activation and, consequently, clot formation.
Next Steps: Clinical Trials and Red Light Goggles
The researchers are now preparing for clinical trials to further investigate the therapeutic potential of red light in humans. As part of these trials, they are developing specialized red light goggles to control the exposure of participants. The team is also working to identify which groups of patients, particularly those at high risk of blood clots, may benefit most from this novel treatment.
“Our goal is to uncover how red light influences blood clotting at a molecular level and to explore the potential of using light as a therapeutic tool,” Dr. Neal added. “This discovery could ultimately help reduce the number of deaths and disabilities caused by blood clots globally.”
Conclusion
This innovative research opens up exciting possibilities for the prevention of blood clots through simple, non-invasive red light exposure. If future trials confirm these results, it could lead to a low-cost, widely accessible solution that addresses a major global health issue.
For more information, the study Alterations in visible light exposure modulate platelet function and regulate thrombus formation is available in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.
