vielight neuro rx gamma - feasibility pilot

Conditions: Alzheimer Disease

Summary: this study tests the effects of the neuro rx gamma synchronous and asynchronous devices on the cognitive and behavioral functioning of subjects with moderate-to-severe alzheimer's disease. the neuro rx gamma is non-invasive and delivers near-infrared energy to the brain in daily treatment sessions at home. an optional substudy will involve the use of the electroencephalogram (eeg) to assess the effect of the treatment devices on the electrical activity of the brain compared to sham.

the neuro rx gamma system is a headset which emits pulsed near-infrared energy synchronously or asynchronously through diodes placed on the scalp and inside a nostril. a potential participant will undergo screening procedures to confirm eligibility to participate in the study, followed by randomization procedure to one of the study groups - treatment synchronized, treatment asynchronized or sham (placebo). a dedicated caregiver will apply the device to the subject for 20 minute daily sessions at home, 6 days a week for a total of 12 weeks. the subject and caregiver will be required to return to the clinic for follow-up assessments after 3, 6 and 12 weeks of treatment. participants will have the choice of opting into a substudy involving the collection of rest eeg recordings during the baseline and weeks 3, 6 and 12 visits. 60 patients will be enrolled in 2 clinical sites in ontario, canada.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * age is greater than or equal to 50 years old * meets the criteria for probable alzheimer's disease of the national institute of neurological and communicative disorders and stroke and the alzheimer's disease and related disorders association (nincds-adrda) * if receiving ongoing cholinesterase inhibitor therapy and/or memantine, must be on a stable dosage for at least the prior 3 months * mini mental state examination (mmse) score between 0-20 at screening assessment * severe impairment battery score at baseline of ≤90 * outpatient with a reliable caregiver willing to commit to study visits and procedures exclusion criteria: * current psychiatric or other neurologic disease * any history of stroke, seizures, light sensitivity (polymorphous light eruption, solar urticaria, persistent light reactivity) or lyme disease, including those taking photosensitizing medication * currently undergoing light therapy treatment * increased skin sensitivity at the treatment site including active herpes simplex in the treatment area, history of keloid formation, or history of retinoid use in the past month * pregnant or lactating or planning to become pregnant * any issues with ambulation, vision, or hearing which could, in the opinion of the investigator, interfere with their ability to complete assessments * does not speak english at a level necessary for the completion of the assessments. * currently participating in another clinical research study involving an investigational product. * has participated in a drug or device study within the last 30 days. * any condition, such as agitation/aggression, that in the opinion of the investigator would cause the patient to be unable to comply with study procedures