Photobiomodulation for Improving Brain Function in Dementia (PBM Dementia)

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Dementia, Alzheimer Type

In brief

A recent study (Saltmarche et al., 21017) examined the effects of photobiomodulation (PBM), a kind of light therapy that uses red or near-infrared light to heal and protect tissue that has either been injured, is degenerating, or else is at risk of dying, in 5 older adults with dementia. After 12 weeks of PBM treatments, delivered with a commercially available, wearable device, the patients with mild to moderately severe dementia showed improvements on the Mini-mental State Exam (MMSE, p\<0.003) and Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive, ADAS-cog, p\<0.03). The caregivers, who kept daily journals of their experiences during the 12 weeks of PBM treatment, reported better sleep, fewer angry outbursts, decreased anxiety and wandering in their loved-ones with dementia. The goals of this trial are to: (1) replicate this finding in a larger group of individuals with dementia and (2) to examine the underling brain mechanisms behind the changes in cognitive function.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT03160027

Run by

University of California, San Francisco

People needed

20

Starts

2017-05-15

Expected to finish

2020-09-15

Last updated by the study team

2020-10-06

Who can join

Age: 50 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• For primary study participants (i.e., individuals with dementia):
• age > 50 years a diagnosis of dementia (preferably AD) by their neurologist English language fluency, legally authorized representative consent no contraindications for MRI MMSE > 11
• Inclusion criteria for caregivers:
• current provision of care to primary participant with dementia ability to answer questions about the primary participant's behaviors, quality of life, and their own level of stress.

You may not qualify if…

• For primary study participants (i.e., individuals with dementia):
• lack of assent to study procedures contraindications for MRI (i.e., pacemakers, metal implants, claustrophobia) terminal illness (i.e., life expectancy < 1 year) started dementia medication (i.e., cholinesterase inhibitor or memantine) in the past 3 months or planning to start new dementia medication current participation in another research study that could potentially confound current study (e.g., medication or behavioral intervention) MMSE < 11.
• Exclusion criteria for caregivers:
• major neurological or psychiatric condition terminal illness evidence of cognitive impairment inability to consent to study procedures

Where it is running

• San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center — San Francisco, California, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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