Using near-infrared light to help brain blood flow and thinking in people with mild cognitive impairment

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

In this study, participants with mild cognitive impairment will be randomly assigned to active tPBM or sham treatment using the Vielight Neuro RX-Duo device for 20 minutes daily. The goal is to see if the light therapy improves cognitive function and cerebral hemodynamic responses during memory and motor tasks, and whether it reduces markers of oxidative stress and inflammation. Researchers will also explore whether cognitive gains relate to amyloid status and brain inflammation. The trial compares active stimulation to a sham control to determine if observed effects are due to the treatment rather than placebo. Overall, the study focuses on neurovascular coupling as a mechanism and a potential therapeutic target in vascular-related cognitive decline.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* 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

Exclusion Criteria:

* Active CNS disease including multiple sclerosis, uncontrolled seizures, active brain cancer
* Cerebrovascular accident other than TIA within 60 days prior to Visit 0
* Diagnosis of amyloid angiopathy
* Major psychiatric disease, including major depression not controlled on medications, alcohol or drug abuse
* Neurodegenerative diseases, e.g: Parkinson's, any kind of dementia
* Patients currently using commercial brain stimulation / neuromodulation device as part of a research study
* Patients currently take dietary supplements with an expected cerebrovascular benefit such as NAD- or NR-supplementum, L-citrullin, urolithin
* 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
* Severe sensory deficits interfering with the testing

Where it's running

• University of Oklahoma Health Campus
  Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Peter Mukli, MD, PhD — Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Campus, Oklahoma, USA
• Study coordinator: Peter Mukli
• Email: peter-mukli@ou.edu
• Phone: +1 (405) 271-8001

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

• Rural Veterans and Care Partners Walking Program

  A virtual walking program is tested to see if it can help Veterans with mild cognitive impairment and their care partners in rural areas walk more each day.

  Recruiting Creighton University · Omaha, Nebraska · NCT07914218

• China HEAD: a large community study on healthy aging and dementia

  This study tests whether collecting health, imaging, and biospecimen data from adults in China can help predict who will develop Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

  Recruiting at 30 sites Fudan University · Beijing and 29 other locations · NCT07912710

• Aging Brain Health Initiative in Fujian

  This observational study will follow about 3,000 older adults in Fujian to see how Alzheimer's-related changes develop and to test new digital tests, biomarkers, and imaging tools for early diagnosis.

  Recruiting at 4 sites Fujian Medical University Union Hospital · Fushun, Fujian and 3 other locations · NCT07891429

• See if multimodal biomarkers can map changes from mild cognitive impairment to dementia

  This observational study tests whether clinical, blood, and brain-imaging markers can tell apart stages of cognitive decline and predict progression from mild cognitive impairment to dementia in about 600 people.

  Recruiting Xuanwu Hospital, Beijing · Beijing, Beijing Municipality · NCT07876570

• LIFU to Help Sleep and Amyloid Reduction in Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment

  A wearable ultrasound device (ATTN201) is being tested to see if it’s safe and easy to use for people 65 and older with mild cognitive impairment and amyloid buildup.

  Recruiting University of California, San Francisco · San Francisco, California · NCT07866768

• Digital STEADI: A home-based digital fall prevention program for older adults

  A home-based digital program using AI-driven conversational agents tests if a guided fall-prevention exercise plan can reduce fall risk for older adults with mild cognitive impairment living independently.

  Recruiting Phase 1/2 Friendi.fi Corporation · Atlanta, Georgia · NCT07852650

How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.