NCT07651787Recruiting
Using Light Therapy for Mild Cognitive Impairment
Neurovascular and Mitochondrial Mechanisms of Transcranial Photobiomodulation in Vascular Mild Cognitive Impairment
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 16 Jun 2026
Brief summary (registry, in English)
The goal of this clinical trial is to test whether transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM), a non-invasive brain stimulation technique using near-infrared light, can improve brain blood flow regulation (neurovascular coupling) and cognitive function in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does tPBM enhance cognitive function and cerebral hemodynamic responses during memory and finger tapping tasks? * Does tPBM reduce oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitigate brain cell damage? * Is cognitive improvement linked to amyloid status, greater cerebral hemodynamic response, and lower levels of brain inflammation and oxidative stress? Researchers will compare an active tPBM treatment arm to a sham treatment arm to see if tPBM leads to measurable improvements in brain activity and cognitive function compared to no active stimulation. Participants will: * Receive a 20-minute-long active tPBM or sham stimulation session once per day, 6 times per week, for 12 weeks. * Complete questionnaires and an iPad-based cognitive testing protocol. * Complete memory and motor tasks while their brain activity is measured using non-invasive techniques: simultaneous functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and electroencephalography (EEG). Dynamic analysis of the vessels in the eye will also be performed based on eligibility. Transcranial Doppler (TCD) flowmetry is optionally performed. * Provide blood samples to test for biomarkers of inflammation, oxidative stress, and brain cell damage.
- Status (registry)
- Recruiting
- Study type
- Interventional
- Enrollment
- 40 (estimated)
- First submitted
- 27 May 2026
- Start date
- 1 Oct 2025
- Primary completion date
- 31 Dec 2026
- Lead sponsor
- University of Oklahoma
- NCT number
- NCT07651787
What you commit to
- Study type: Interventional
- Planned participants: 40
- From 1 Oct 2025 to the primary completion date, 31 Dec 2026
- 1 site in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Prior treatment
- Cerebrovascular accident other than TIA within 60 days prior to Visit 0
- Patients currently using commercial brain stimulation / neuromodulation device as part of a research study
Other illness
- Active CNS disease including multiple sclerosis, uncontrolled seizures, active brain cancer
- Major psychiatric disease, including major depression not controlled on medications, alcohol or drug abuse
- Neurodegenerative diseases, e.g: Parkinson's, any kind of dementia
- Unstable medical condition, including uncontrolled diabetes, chronic heart issues, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension uncontrolled by medication (\>160/100 mmHg)
- Any other medical condition or medication which, in the opinion of investigator, would render the patient too unstable to complete the study protocol
Other
- Diagnosis of amyloid angiopathy
- Patients currently take dietary supplements with an expected cerebrovascular benefit such as NAD- or NR-supplementum, L-citrullin, urolithin
- Severe sensory deficits interfering with the testing
Who the study is looking for
- Age: 55-95 years of age
- Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) equal to 0.5 and/or Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) \<26 and ≥19
- Adequate hearing and visual acuity to participate in the examinations
- English speaker
- Presence of cerebrovascular pathology confirmed by structural brain imaging method
Age in the registry: 55 years to 95 years · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers
Sites (1)
Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Oklahoma Health Campus Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Oklahoma City | United States | Recruiting |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.