Effects of Morning Blue-Green 500 nm Light Therapy on Cognition and Biomarkers in Middle-Aged and Older Adults with Subjective Cognitive Decline and Mild Cognitive Impairment: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Wang, Ziqi^{a; b; 1} | Zhang, Yige^{c; 1} | Dong, Li^{a; d; f} | Zheng, Zihao^a | Zhong, Dayong^{g; h} | Long, Xunqinⁱ | Cai, Qingyan^a | Jian, Wei^a | Zhang, Songge^b | Wu, Wenbin^{c; *} | Yao, Dezhong^{a; d; e; f; *}

Affiliations: [a] The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China | [b] The Memory Clinic of Department of Neurology, Chengdu Western Hospital, Chengdu, China | [c] Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China | [d] Research Unit of NeuroInformation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China | [e] School of Electrical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China | [f] Sichuan Institute for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Chengdu, China | [g] Sichuan Provincial Revolutionary Disabled Soldiers Hospital, Chengdu, China | [h] Chongzhou Second Hospital, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, China | [i] The Department of Clinical Laboratory, Chengdu Western Hospital, Chengdu, China

Correspondence: [*] Dezhong Yao, The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation ,University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China. E-mail: dyao@uestc.edu.cn and Wenbin Wu, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China. E-mail: wwb1201@vip.sina.com.

Note: [1] These authors contributed equally to this work.

Abstract: Background:Given that there is no specific drug to treat Alzheimer’s disease, non-pharmacologic interventions in people with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) are one of the most important treatment strategies. Objective:To clarify the efficacy of blue-green (500 nm) light therapy on sleep, mood, and physiological parameters in patients with SCD and aMCI is an interesting avenue to explore. Methods:This is a monocentric, randomized, and controlled trial that will last for 4 weeks. We will recruit 150 individuals aged 45 years or older from memory clinics and divide them into 5 groups: SCD treatment (n = 30), SCD control (n = 30), aMCI treatment (n = 30), aMCI control (n = 30), and a group of healthy adult subjects (n = 30) as a normal control (NC). Results:The primary outcome is the change in subjective and objective cognitive performance between baseline and postintervention visits (4 weeks after baseline). Secondary outcomes include changes in performance assessing from baseline, postintervention to follow-up (3 months after the intervention), as well as sleep, mood, and physiological parameters (including blood, urine, electrophysiology, and neuroimaging biomarkers). Conclusion:This study aims to provide evidence of the impact of light therapy on subjective and objective cognitive performance in middle-aged and older adults with SCD or aMCI. In addition, we will identify possible neurophysiological mechanisms of action underlying light therapy. Overall, this trial will contribute to the establishment of light therapy in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, low-level light therapy, mild cognitive impairment, non-pharmacologic interventions, subjective cognitive decline

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-201560

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 83, no. 4, pp. 1521-1536, 2021