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Transcranial Photobiomodulation for Reducing Autism Symptoms in Children - Open Label Study (TPBMASDOL)

Transcranial Photobiomodulation for Reducing Autism Symptoms in Children.

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06359080
Enrollment
25
Registered
2024-04-11
Start date
2022-05-08
Completion date
2022-12-11
Last updated
2026-07-07

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

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Keywords

ASD, Autism, tPBM

Brief summary

The hypothesis of the study is that photobiomodulation reduces symptoms of autism. Participants will be children between the ages of 2 and 7, who have been diagnosed with moderate to severe autism. Transcranial photobiomodulation will be administered to the children in the experimental condition twice a week for 10 weeks. Results will be measured through parental interviews, standardized CARS2 (Childhood Autism Rating Scales, 2nd Edition) and data collected from EEG.

Detailed description

The CognilumTM System is a non-invasive device that uses infrared light (IR), delivered through light emitting diodes (LEDs) built into a head band worn by the patient during treatment. The proposed clinical investigation is determined by the FDA to be a nonsignificant risk (NSR) device study.

Interventions

The children will wear the CognilumTM device for up to 15 minutes at a time, twice a week, for a period of 10 weeks.

Sponsors

JelikaLite LLC
Lead SponsorINDUSTRY

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

Open Label Study This will be an one-arm, open label study. Participants who were in the placebo condition in the previous study, will receive the treatment. Participants who were in the active condition in the previous study will repeat the course of treatment after the intermission of 3-6 months (depending on when they completed the study).

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
2 Years to 7 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Male or female participants between 2 years and 7 years of age (inclusive), of all races. 2. Previously diagnosed with moderate or severe ASD by a licensed professional. 3. Participants may be receiving any behavioral intervention therapy (e.g., ABA, Floor Time) during the course of the treatment. The final statistical analysis will control for the participants receiving behavioral therapies in control and experimental conditions. We expect the majority of the participants in both control and experimental conditions to be receiving behavioral therapies. There is no known interactions or complications of tPBM with behavioral therapy. 4. Parents of participants must understand the nature of the study. 5. Parents of participants must sign an IRB- approved informed consent form before initiation of any study procedures. 6. Parents of participants must have a level of understanding sufficient to communicate with the investigator and study coordinator, and to cooperate with all tests and examinations required by the protocol. 7. Participant child experiencing a major psychiatric disorder will be allowed to participate in the study provided they do not meet any exclusionary criteria. 8. The participant child is willing to participate in this study. 9. Participant previously participated in the JelikaLite pivotal clinical trial that took place in 2021, either in the active or placebo conditions.

Exclusion criteria

1. Participant child is experiencing severe self-injurious behavior or severe aggressive behavior to self or others (within past 7 days). 2. Participant has been diagnosed with another psychiatric or neurological disorder (e.g. epilepsy) or have exhibited symptoms of major psychiatric disorders within the last 30 days. 3. Participant has an unstable medical condition (that requires clinical attention). 4. Participant has a significant skin condition at the procedure sites (i.e., hemangioma, scleroderma, psoriasis, rash, open wound or tattoo). 5. Participant has an implant of any kind in the head (e.g. stent, clipped aneurysm, embolised AVM, implantable shunt - Hakim valve). 6. Any use of light-activated drugs (photodynamic therapy) within 14 days prior to study enrollment (in US: Visudine (verteporfin) - for age related macular degeneration; Aminolevulinic Acid- for actinic keratoses; Photofrin (porfimer sodium) - for esophageal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer; Levulan Kerastick (aminolevulinic acid HCl) - for actinic keratosis; 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA)- for non-melanoma skin cancer). 7. Current treatment with a psychotropic medication. 8. Investigator and his/her immediate family, defined as the investigator's child or grandchild.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Autism Symptoms10 weeksChildhood Autism Rating Scales, Second Edition (CARS, 2nd Edition), patients were evaluated after conclusion of the study. CARS is a validated clinical rating scale that can be used by a trained clinician to rate items indicative of ASD after direct observation of the child. The scale consists of fifteen items that correspond to the different core domains (e.g., verbal communication, emotional response, and relationships with people) that can be affected by ASD. Total score (sum of all 15 sub-scales) can range from a low of 15 (no ASD) to a high of 60 (severe ASD). For the outcome measure we took the difference between the CARS score at the completion of the study and the CARS score at baseline.

Countries

United States

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORYuli Fradkin, MD

RDT Group NJ

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
CognilumTM
During the study participants will be wearing the photobiomodulation device Cognilum. The device will administer the stimulation of near infrared light (830nm) to specific areas of the child's brain. Cognilum TM: Light Treatment Condition: The children will wear the CognilumTM device for up to 15 minutes at a time, twice a week, for a period of 10 weeks.
22
Total22

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicCognilumTM
Age, Continuous4.9 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.46
Childhood Autism Rating Scales, Second Edition (CARS, 2nd Edition)36.45 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.55
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
0 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
22 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
2 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
19 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
22 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
3 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
19 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 22
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 22
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 22

Outcome results

Primary

Change in Autism Symptoms

Childhood Autism Rating Scales, Second Edition (CARS, 2nd Edition), patients were evaluated after conclusion of the study. CARS is a validated clinical rating scale that can be used by a trained clinician to rate items indicative of ASD after direct observation of the child. The scale consists of fifteen items that correspond to the different core domains (e.g., verbal communication, emotional response, and relationships with people) that can be affected by ASD. Total score (sum of all 15 sub-scales) can range from a low of 15 (no ASD) to a high of 60 (severe ASD). For the outcome measure we took the difference between the CARS score at the completion of the study and the CARS score at baseline.

Time frame: 10 weeks

Population: The study enrolled children of both sexes aged two to seven years, who had previously been diagnosed with ASD by a licensed professional according to the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM V).~Every participant was assessed using Childhood Autism Rating Scales, Second Edition (CARS, 2nd Edition).~Participants were evaluated before the course of treatment (baseline) and after the course of treatment. Treatment duration was 10 weeks.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
CognilumTMChange in Autism Symptoms-6.77 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 3.38
p-value: <0.0595% CI: [5.36, 8.19]t-test, 2 sided

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Jul 8, 2026