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Transcranial Photobiomodulation (tPBM) in Alzheimer's Disease Study

A Longitudinal Study Investigating the Effects of Photobiomodulation (PBM) on Cognitive Function and Alzheimer's Disease (AD)-Related Biomarkers in Individuals With Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or Dementia Due to AD

Status
Recruiting
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07224607
Enrollment
45
Registered
2025-11-04
Start date
2025-12-25
Completion date
2026-10-31
Last updated
2025-11-19

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

Conditions

Alzheimer's Disease

Keywords

photobiomodulation, PBM, Alzheimer's Disease, Dementia, Mild cognitive impairment, MCI, 1064nm

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to see if a special light treatment, called photobiomodulation, can help people with memory problems such as Mild Cognitive Impairment or Mild Dementia due to Alzheimer's disease. The light is given to the forehead using an FDA-cleared medical device. This device is cleared to provide topical heating to elevate tissue temperature for temporary relief of muscle and joint pain, muscle spasm and stiffness associated with arthritis. It also increases blood circulation and relaxes muscle tissue. This device is being used off-label, meaning it will be used in a way that is different than its cleared use. We want to learn whether this light treatment can improve executive function, and whether it changes certain inflammatory and neurodegeneration related signals in the blood. To do this, we will apply the photobiomodulation device to your forehead. We will also ask you questions and give you cognitive tests before and after light treatment. We will also collect blood samples before and after treatment.

Interventions

DEVICEPhotobiomodulation

1064nm transcranial photobiomodulation

Sponsors

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
55 Years to 89 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Signed and dated informed consent form (either by subject or LAR) * Willingness and ability to comply with all study procedures * Age 55 to 89 years, inclusive * Clinical diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment or mild dementia (CDR Global = 0-1; MoCA 16-25) due to probable Alzheimer's disease diagnosis * Ability to attend in-person sessions at Cedars-Sinai and adhere to weekly visits * Stable dose of Alzheimer's disease medications (e.g., donepezil, rivastigmine, memantine, galantamine) for at least 4 weeks prior to enrollment, if applicable

Exclusion criteria

* Presence of significant neurological conditions other than AD (e.g., epilepsy, Parkinson, etc.) * History of Seizures * If patient holds neuroimaging showing space-occupying lesions * If patient holds imaging with Fazekas greater than or equal to 3, more than 2 lacunar infarcts, and/or more than 5 microhemorrhages * Current pregnancy or lactation (although unlikely in this population) * Participation in another clinical trial or investigational drug within the past 30 days * Active use of illicit substances or non-prescribed psychoactive drugs within the past 30 days. * Severe dementia due to Alzheimer's disease or another etiology * Physical or mental impairment that prevents the participant from complying with the cognitive testing battery.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
NIH ToolboxBaseline measurements will be performed prior to intervention, post-treatment (week 5), and lastly at the 3-month follow-up visitThree validated NIH Toolbox tasks: 1. Dimensional Change Card Sort Task (measure of cognitive flexibility) 2. Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention Test (a measure of inhibitory control and selective attention), 3. Visual Reasoning Test (non-verbal and visual reasoning)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Neurofilament Light Chain (NfL)Baseline and 3-month follow upPlasma Neurofilament Light Chain (NfL) concentration (pg/ml) measure using the S-PLEX Assay
Total TauBaseline and 3-month follow upPlasma total tau concentration (pg/ml) measure using the S-PLEX Assay
Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP)Will be performed at baseline and at 3 month follow upPlasma GFAP concentration (pg/ml) measure using the S-PLEX Assay
Interleukin-1β (IL-1β)Baseline and 3-month follow upPlasma IL-1β concentration measured using the V-PLEX assay
Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α)Baseline and 3-month follow upPlasma TNF-α concentration (pg/ml) measured using the V-PLEX assay
Interferon-γ (IFN-γ)Baseline and 3-month follow upPlasma GFAP concentration (pg/ml) measure using the V-PLEX Assay

Countries

United States

Contacts

Primary ContactEnrique Vargas Vargas, MD
enrique.vargas@cshs.org972-281-7187
Backup ContactGolnaz Yadollahikhales, MD
Golnaz.Yadollahikhales@cshs.org310-385-6016

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026