Alzheimer's Disease Treatment With Combination of 40Hz Light and Cognitive Therapy (AlzLife)

Alzheimer's Light

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Alzheimer Disease; Mild Cognitive Impairment; Cognitive Decline; Cognitive Deterioration; Cognition Disorders in Old Age; Dementia

Treatments: Device: Combination of 40Hz light and cognitive therapy (ALZLIFE)

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Industry

Identifiers

NCT03657745

AlzLife001

Details and patient eligibility

About

Electrical activity in the brain known as "gamma" brainwaves help connect and process information throughout the brain. These gamma waves are diminished in Alzheimer's disease. New research in Alzheimer's disease mouse models shows that exposure to light flickering at the rate of 40 flashes per second or 40Hz increased gamma brainwaves and led to clearing of beta amyloid plaques in the brain, a key abnormality in Alzheimer's disease. This project will test the ability of a novel iPad App (AlzLife https://www.alz.life/) that delivers light therapy at 40 Hz combined with cognitive therapy to improve cognition, function, and quality of life in Alzheimer's disease.

Full description

New research suggests that exposure to a light flickering at 40Hz may promote gamma brain wave activity through the photic entrainment phenomenon. These waves have the potential to activate critical cleaning cells in the brain that could eliminate beta amyloid plaques. The most recent research on light therapy for Alzheimer's disease appeared in the journal Nature in 2017, entitled "How flashing lights and pink noise might banish Alzheimer's, improve memory and more" (the full article can be freely accessed at: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-02391-6) and in 2016, entitled "Gamma frequency entrainment attenuates amyloid load and modifies microglia" (the article abstract can be accessed at: https://www.nature.com/articles/nature20587). Researchers from MIT found that shining a strobe light into the eyes of mice with a rodent version of Alzheimer's disease encouraged protective cells to phagocytize the harmful proteins that accumulate in the brain. The perfect rate of flashes was determined to be 40 per second. Exposure to the flashing light for an hour (light therapy) led to a noticeable reduction in beta amyloid levels the next day in regions of the neocortex and hippocampus. When done every day for a week, beta amyloid levels were greatly reduced.

In addition, there is a significant body of evidence that computerized brain training (cognitive therapy) improves the memory of patients with Alzheimer's and dementia, which could help avert some symptoms of cognitive decline.

The synergistic combination of light and cognitive therapy utilized in AlzLife has the potential to improve the brain's function better than either of these therapies alone. This project will test the ability of a novel iPad App ("ALZLIFE") that delivers light therapy at 40 Hz combined with cognitive therapy to improve cognition, function, and quality of life in Alzheimer's disease.

Enrollment: 2,000 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 50+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Alzheimer's disease
• Cognitive Impairment

Exclusion criteria

• any previously noted epileptic seizures, including febrile seizures.
• any significant disease of the eye, such as macular degeneration. Since the 40Hz light therapy is delivered via eye stimulation, healthy eyes are required.

Trial design

2,000 participants in 2 patient groups

Participants who adhere to the protocol

Description:

All participants are encouraged to exercise with AlzLife daily for 30 minutes a day. The actual duration is to be measured through participant's interactions with ALZLIFE. Participants adhere to the protocol if they exercise with AlzLife the minimum of 1hour/week.

Treatment:

Device: Combination of 40Hz light and cognitive therapy (ALZLIFE)

Participants who do not adhere to the protocol

Description:

All participants are encouraged to exercise with AlzLife daily for 30 minutes a day. The actual duration is to be measured through participant's interactions with ALZLIFE. Participants do not adhere to the protocol if they exercise with AlzLife less than 1hour/week.

Treatment:

Device: Combination of 40Hz light and cognitive therapy (ALZLIFE)