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Use of Transcranial Photobiomodulation to Improve Cognition and Self-Reported Outcomes in Survivors of Childhood Cancer

Use of Transcranial Photobiomodulation to Improve Cognition and Self-Reported Outcomes in Survivors of Childhood Cancer

Status
Active, not recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05550948
Enrollment
44
Registered
2022-09-22
Start date
2023-01-05
Completion date
2026-08-01
Last updated
2026-04-23

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

ALL, Cancer, Hodgkin Lymphoma, Survivorship

Brief summary

Survivors of childhood cancer are at greater risk for long-term cognitive impairments that include attention, executive function, intelligence, memory, and processing speed. The participants are a survivor of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL). Because of your treatment the participant may have developed trouble with thinking and learning. Primary Objective To evaluate the feasibility of using home-based tPBM paired with remote cognitive training to improve cognitive performance in survivors of ALL and HL. Secondary Objectives To estimate the potential efficacy of alpha and gamma frequency tPBM on cognitive performance in survivors of ALL and HL. Exploratory Objectives To estimate the effects of home-based tPBM paired with remote cognitive training on patient reported symptoms of executive dysfunction, sleep, depression, anxiety, fatigue, and pain in survivors of ALL and HL.

Detailed description

Survivors with ALL and HL with identified executive function impairment will be randomized to receive stimulation with alpha tPBM + cognitive training, gamma tPBM + cognitive training or sham tPBM + cognitive training three days per week for a 2-month intervention period The tPBM will be applied to nodes in the default mode network.

Interventions

DEVICETranscranial photobiomodulation (tPBM) - Mobile System

The Vielight NeURO device delivers 810 nm near infrared light via four (4) transcranial LED modules. The LED modules target brain regions associated with a variety of cognitive functions. It can deliver light at two frequencies: Alpha (10 Hz) and Gamma (40 Hz). Alpha oscillations are prominent in healthy brains during wakeful resting and gamma oscillations are associated with activities associated with focus, memory, and cognition.

Sponsors

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
DEVICE_FEASIBILITY
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

The proposed study is a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled pilot study of remotely delivered tPBM paired with cognitive training.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Completed treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or Hodgkin's Lymphoma (HL) at SJCRH. * Enrolled in SJLIFE, and less than 21 years of age at diagnosis. * 18 years of age or older at time of enrollment. * 2 years or greater post-treatment completion of cancer directed therapy and not currently receiving any cancer directed therapy. * English language proficiency. * Access to WiFi. * Executive dysfunction defined as having an age-adjusted standard score less than 16th percentile on objectively assessed cognitive test or patient-reported executive dysfunction defined as having a standard score greater than 84th percentile within 3 years of time of enrollment.

Exclusion criteria

* Estimated intelligence score less than 80. * Currently taking medication intended to treat neurocognitive impairment (i.e., stimulants). * Major psychiatric condition. * Alcohol abuse in the past year (AUDIT) \[greater than or equal to 13 for women and greater than or equal to 15 for men\]. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) will be used to screen for individuals who have active alcohol-use disorders. * Drug abuse in the past year (DAST-10) \[ greater than or equal to 3 for women or men\] The Drug Abuse Screen Test (DAST-10) will be used to screen for individuals with active drug abuse. * History of neurologic condition or genetic disorder associated with neurocognitive impairment unrelated to cancer diagnosis or treatment. * Enrolled on another independent cognitive intervention protocol within the last year. * Female participants who are pregnant or lactating (determined by participant self-report due to the remote nature of this study) * Tattoo or artificial marking in the area where the device will be positioned.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of participants who completed a two-month trial of paired photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy and cognitive training4 months after participant enrollmentThe trial will be considered feasible if at least 15 of 30 survivors are able to complete 18 of 24 sessions (PBM along with cognitive training).

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
CNS Vital Signs adaptions of the Rey auditory verbal learning test (RVLT).2 month and 4 months after enrollmentRVLT is a test that evaluate working memory.
CNS Vital Signs adaptions of the Rey visual design learning (RVDL) test.2 month and 4 months after enrollmentRVDL is a test that evaluate working memory.
CNS Vital Signs implemented Stroop color and word test.2 month and 4 months after enrollmentThe Stroop test is a test that evaluates Inhibitory control.
CNS Vital Signs implemented Shifting Attention Test.2 month and 4 months after enrollmentThe Shifting attention test and Stroop test are tests that are used to measure cognitive flexibility.
CNS Vital Signs implementation of the Continuous Performance Test (CPT).2 month and 4 months after enrollmentThe CPT test is a test that evaluates attention.

Countries

United States

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORNicholas Phillips, MD,PhD

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Apr 24, 2026