Alzheimer's Disease Treatment With Combination of 40Hz Light and Cognitive Therapy

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Total Enrollment

2000 participants

Study Classification

OBSERVATIONAL

Study Start Date

2018-01-01

Study Completion Date

2029-12-31

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

Electrical activity in the brain known as "gamma" brainwaves help connect and process information throughout the brain. These gamma waves are diminished in Alzheimer's disease. New research in Alzheimer's disease mouse models shows that exposure to light flickering at the rate of 40 flashes per second or 40Hz increased gamma brainwaves and led to clearing of beta amyloid plaques in the brain, a key abnormality in Alzheimer's disease. This project will test the ability of a novel iPad App (AlzLife https://www.alz.life/) that delivers light therapy at 40 Hz combined with cognitive therapy to improve cognition, function, and quality of life in Alzheimer's disease.

Related Clinical Trials

Explore similar clinical trials based on study characteristics and research focus.

Rhythmic Light Therapy for Alzheimer's Disease Patients

NCT05015478

Mild Cognitive Impairment

COMPLETED NA

Chronic Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease by Gamma Light and Sound Therapy

NCT05655195

Alzheimer Disease Alzheimer Disease, Early Onset Alzheimer Disease, Late Onset +3 more

RECRUITING NA

High Frequency Light and Sound Stimulation to Improve Brain Functions in Alzheimer's Disease

NCT04042922

Alzheimer Disease

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING NA

Effects of Endogenous Gamma Light Stimulation on Brain Oscillations in Cognitively-normal Older Adults

NCT06715995

EEG Brain Oscillations Alzheimer&#39;s Disease (AD) Cognitively Normal Older Adults

RECRUITING NA

Impact of Photobiomodulation (PBM) on Biomarkers of Alzheimer's Disease

NCT03405662

Alzheimer Disease

COMPLETED NA

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

New research suggests that exposure to a light flickering at 40Hz may promote gamma brain wave activity through the photic entrainment phenomenon. These waves have the potential to activate critical cleaning cells in the brain that could eliminate beta amyloid plaques. The most recent research on light therapy for Alzheimer's disease appeared in the journal Nature in 2017, entitled "How flashing lights and pink noise might banish Alzheimer's, improve memory and more" (the full article can be freely accessed at: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-02391-6) and in 2016, entitled "Gamma frequency entrainment attenuates amyloid load and modifies microglia" (the article abstract can be accessed at: https://www.nature.com/articles/nature20587). Researchers from MIT found that shining a strobe light into the eyes of mice with a rodent version of Alzheimer's disease encouraged protective cells to phagocytize the harmful proteins that accumulate in the brain. The perfect rate of flashes was determined to be 40 per second. Exposure to the flashing light for an hour (light therapy) led to a noticeable reduction in beta amyloid levels the next day in regions of the neocortex and hippocampus. When done every day for a week, beta amyloid levels were greatly reduced.

In addition, there is a significant body of evidence that computerized brain training (cognitive therapy) improves the memory of patients with Alzheimer's and dementia, which could help avert some symptoms of cognitive decline.

The synergistic combination of light and cognitive therapy utilized in AlzLife has the potential to improve the brain's function better than either of these therapies alone. This project will test the ability of a novel iPad App ("ALZLIFE") that delivers light therapy at 40 Hz combined with cognitive therapy to improve cognition, function, and quality of life in Alzheimer's disease.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Alzheimer Disease Mild Cognitive Impairment Dementia Cognition Disorders in Old Age Cognitive Decline Cognitive Deterioration

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Observational Model Type

COHORT

Study Time Perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Participants who adhere to the protocol

All participants are encouraged to exercise with AlzLife daily for 30 minutes a day. The actual duration is to be measured through participant's interactions with ALZLIFE. Participants adhere to the protocol if they exercise with AlzLife the minimum of 1hour/week.

Combination of 40Hz light and cognitive therapy (ALZLIFE)

Intervention Type DEVICE

Combination of 40Hz light and cognitive therapy delivered by iPad application ALZLIFE

Participants who do not adhere to the protocol

All participants are encouraged to exercise with AlzLife daily for 30 minutes a day. The actual duration is to be measured through participant's interactions with ALZLIFE. Participants do not adhere to the protocol if they exercise with AlzLife less than 1hour/week.

Combination of 40Hz light and cognitive therapy (ALZLIFE)

Intervention Type DEVICE

Combination of 40Hz light and cognitive therapy delivered by iPad application ALZLIFE

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Combination of 40Hz light and cognitive therapy (ALZLIFE)

Combination of 40Hz light and cognitive therapy delivered by iPad application ALZLIFE

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* Alzheimer's disease
* Cognitive Impairment

Exclusion Criteria

* any previously noted epileptic seizures, including febrile seizures.
* any significant disease of the eye, such as macular degeneration. Since the 40Hz light therapy is delivered via eye stimulation, healthy eyes are required.

Minimum Eligible Age

50 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes