Photo Neuro-Modulation Therapy, Mild Cognitive Impairment
Conditions
Brief summary
It is well-documented that mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is associated frontal lobe dysfunction and executive dysfunction. In addition, many studies reported high level of MCI symptoms among the elderly and the trend is increasing in Hong Kong. Based upon the link between MCI and frontal and executive function problems, it is conceivable that elderly who exhibits high levels of memory problems would exhibit frontal and executive function problems. To our knowledge, there is still a lack of effective treatment or therapy for MCI, it is important to investigate effective intervention that can efficiently improve the cognitive ability of MCI patients or patients with mild memory problems. The objective of the present study is to compare individuals with mild memory problems after the Photo neuro-modulation Therapy (PNMT) and those who do not. 40 middle aged and older adults were recruited from the subject database of the Neuropsychology Laboratory of The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Participants were divided randomly and equally into treatment group, as well as the placebo group. Several computerized executive function tests will be used before and after the treatment under the recording of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), which estimates level of frontal activation. It is hypothesized that compared to participants without PNMT, those with PNMT will have a better performance in the executive function tasks and exhibit a higher frontal activation. The cognitive and neurophysiological results would provide evidences on the possibility of PNMT in treating individuals with mild memory problems, as well as with other mental disorders.
Interventions
DEVICEPhotoneuromodulation therapy
low-level LED near-infrared (670-810nm) including MedX Health Model 1100 or WiseFori5-3800
OTHERSham
Sham, no active stimulation will be given to subjects
Sponsors
Chinese University of Hong Kong
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
40 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* 40 middle age and older adults with aged 40 or above who have subjective memory complaints
Exclusion criteria
* A history of head injury, or any neurological/psychiatric disorders, and dementia will be excluded. In addition, a score higher than 7 on the short form of the Chinese Geriatric Depression Scale (CGDS-SF; Lee, Chiu, Kwok, & Leung, 1993)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Category Fluency Test | through study completion, an average of 2 year | a test to assess the ability to generate words that belong to a semantic category in a controlled manner |
| N-Back Test (cognitive test battery) | through study completion, an average of 2 year | a digit n-back paradigm to assess working memory |
| The Hong Kong List Learning Test | through study completion, an average of 2 year | a tests to assess memory function of the participants |
| The Chinese Version of the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale | through study completion, an average of 2 year | a test to estimate the global functioning level of the participants, lowest score is 0, highest score is 144, higher score means better global functioning level |
| NIRS Recording | through study completion, an average of 2 year | NIRS to record the hemodynamic response, measured in mmol/mm |
| EEG Recordings | through study completion, an average of 2 year | EEG is used to record electrical activity of the brain, measured in microvolts, EEG power spectrum |
Countries
Hong Kong
Outcome results
None listed