None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The involvement of the circadian system is becoming an increasingly important topic in respect to the aetiology and treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD). PD is traditionally described as, a disorder predominantly of motor impairment, mediated by nigro-striatal DA (NSD) function. However, the secondary symptoms that proceed and accompany the disease during its course tell a different story. Insomnia, fatigue, depression and sleep disturbance are four of the most troublesome symptoms of PD that not only herald disease onset but also exacerbate primary symptoms and rob patients of their quality of life. Realigning circadian phase is the mechanism by which we can intervene in circadian function and phototherapy is the most effective method for doing so. Unfortunately, only a few studies have examined the efficacy of phototherapy as it relates to the protracted, ongoing nature of the disease itself. The present study examines the effect of light treatment for as long as ten years during the course of PD by monitoring primary and secondary symptoms at regular intervals. Improvement in circadian based symptoms observed including insomnia, fatigue, sleep architecture and depression may occur, and it is hypothesized that motor function will be subtle and occur incrementally. It is hypothesized that Improvement in both motor and secondary symptoms will occur for the duration of the study as long as patients used the treatment daily. The sequence of symptom recovery from secondary symptoms to motor impairment is expected to be slow suggesting that an incremental process of improvement is in tow, representing an inverse of the degenerative sequelae that continues over decades. Such a process would emulate the slow incremental process that characterizes the reparative process seen with pure disorders of circadian function. Recent findings suggesting that weakened circadian rhythmicity is associated with increased risk of PD thereby corroborating the possibility that “tweaking” the circadian system with a potent Zeitgeber may interfere with internal timing to slow the degenerative process of PD.
Interventions
The intervention involves exposure to polychromatic light (Light Therapy) emitted from a medical device specifically designed to treat the motor impairment, insomnia, fatigue, depression and anxiety of Parkinson’s disease. As is the case for treatment of other disorders with these symptoms (such as Seasonal Affective Disorder: SAD), patients will be treated for 1 hour per day with a measure amount of light at 3,000 to 5,000 LUX. Patients will be monitored and assessed during face-to-face consult
The intervention involves exposure to polychromatic light (Light Therapy) emitted from a medical device specifically designed to treat the motor impairment, insomnia, fatigue, depression and anxiety of Parkinson’s disease. As is the case for treatment of other disorders with these symptoms (such as Seasonal Affective Disorder: SAD), patients will be treated for 1 hour per day with a measure amount of light at 3,000 to 5,000 LUX. Patients will be monitored and assessed during face-to-face consultations on a regularly scheduled basis. This is to ensure that the light is delivered to optimize phototransduction and to maximize the therapeutic effect. The duration of treatment will be for at least 2 months, up to 10 years. The treatment will be delivered and guided by a clinician with over 30 years of experience in treating sleep and psychiatric disorders using this methodology. The patient will be thoroughly briefed and monitored to ensure the light is delivered at the right time in the circadian cycle. The device will be used at home for an hour and ongoing device use will be monitored to ensure compliance. The Chief Investigator will be in contact with other health professionals to ensure treatment is compatible with other ongoing treatments. Treatments will be delivered daily at the critical time in the circadian cycle and patients will be monitored/assessed every week to week and a half.
Sponsors
The Bronowski Institute of Behavioural Neuroscience
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Single group
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Any patient diagnosed with Parkinson's disease by a qualified medical practitioner. Being an exploratory trial, we are examining the generalizability of any therapeutic effects to the general diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.
Exclusion criteria
Nil
Outcome results
None listed