Study on Safety, Feasibility and Neural Activation of Non-Invasive Light Therapy System

Overview

Induction of neural oscillations by flickering light is a well established method used for diagnostic of various neural diseases. Recent studies in mice have shown promising results indicating that induction of gamma oscillation at 40 Hz leads to a reduction in amyloid-β and tau in mice models of Alzheimer's disease. This study will use flickering light to induce 40 Hz gamma oscillation as the previously mentioned studies. In the study subject will be exposed to invisible spectral flickering light (active setting) or continuous non-flickering white light (sham setting) for 1 hour each day. The sham setting is a high quality sham intervention as subjects will be blinded to the setting, both appears as white light. As this is the first trial, the focus will be on 1) safety of the intervention 2) feasibility of the proposed intervention time and method 3) indication of efficacy. In stage 1 of the trial 4 age-matched subjects with no Alzheimer's disease will be recruited and be exposed for 1 week. In stage 2 10 patients with Alzheimer's disease will be recruited and exposed for 6 consecutive weeks.

Induction of neural oscillations by flickering light is a well established method used for diagnostic of various neural diseases (5,6). Recent studies in mice have shown promising results indicating that induction of gamma oscillation at 40 Hz leads to a reduction in amyloid-β an tau in mice models of Alzheimer's disease (1-4). This study will use flickering light to induce 40 Hz gamma oscillation as the previously mentioned studies. This study will utilize a novel way of masking the light by alternating the spectral composition of a white light, rendering the flicker invisible to the conscience perception while still entraining 40 Hz oscillations in the brain. In the study subject will be exposed to invisible spectral flickering light (active setting) or continuous non-flickering white light (sham setting) for 1 hour each day. The sham setting is a high quality sham intervention as subjects will be blinded to the setting, both appears as white light. As this is the first trial, the focus will be on 1) safety of the intervention 2) feasibility of the proposed intervention time and method 3) indication of efficacy. In stage 1 of the trial 4 age-matched subjects with no Alzheimer's disease will be recruited and be exposed for 1 week. In stage 2 10 patients with Alzheimer's disease will be recruited and exposed for 6 consecutive weeks. Following the 6 weeks of intervention the subject will have 6 weeks of no intevention and assesed agian.