Transcranial Photobiomodulation Intervention for Healthy Older Adults
Condition: Transcranial Photobiomodulation; Intervention; Functional Near-infrared Spectroscopy; Working Memory; Healthy Older Adults
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM) is a novel, non-invasive neurostimulation technique,
      which has shown compelling potential for cognitive improvement. Increasing neuroimaging
      studies have demonstrated that functional brain network models would sensitively and
      comprehensively delineate action mechanisms of multiple neurostimulation techniques. However,
      the action mechanism of tPBM based on functional brain network remain largely unknown. In
      this project, the investigators aim to investigate the effectiveness of tPBM on working
      memory for healthy older adults. Taking the randomized, single-blind controlled method,
      participants in the active tPBM group will take active tPBM, and those in the sham tPBM group
      will take sham tPBM. After that, the investigators will investigate the changes of working.
      Furthermore, based on the neuroimaging technique, the regulatory mechanism of tPBM in
      intervening older adults will be revealed from the perspective of altered brain functional
      networks. This study will provide evidence for understanding whether the tPBM has the
      potentially therapeutic effect on cognitive function for healthy older adults as a non-drug
      treatment, and further elucidating the potential brain mechanism, which are of great values
      in solving scientific and clinical practice issues.
    

Detailed description: 
      An astonishing rise in the prevalence of cognitive decline and dementia in older adults was
      witnessed in recent years, which renders investigations of cognitive intervention especially
      urgent and vital. Transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM) is now considered as a potentially
      non-pharmacologic intervention for cognitive decline and has attracted the interest of
      researchers. However, there are few existing studies involving the mechanism of tPBM on brain
      functional networks.

      Sixty healthy older participants will be recruited in this randomized, single-blind
      controlled trial. Each group had thirty participants.Participants in the active tPBM group
      will take active tPBM and those in the sham tPBM group will take sham tPBM. After that, the
      investigators will investigate the changes of working memory, which is the primary outcome.
      Furthermore, based on the neuroimaging technique of functional near-infrared spectroscopy
      (fNIRS), the regulatory mechanism of tPBM in intervening older adults will be revealed from
      the perspective of altered brain functional networks.

      This study will provide evidence for understanding whether the tPBM has the potentially
      therapeutic effect on cognitive function for healthy older adults as a non-drug treatment,
      and further elucidating the potential brain mechanism, which are of great values in solving
      scientific and clinical practice issues.
    

Intervention name(s): Active tPBM session; Sham tPBM session
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Behavioral
Intervention description(s): In this project, taking the method of random, double blindness and control, participants in the active tPBM group will take active tPBM session. After that, N-back tests and neuroimaging biomarkers will be compared between active tPBM group and sham tPBM group.; In this project, taking the method of random, double blindness and control, participants in the sham tPBM group will take sham tPBM session. After that, N-back tests and neuroimaging biomarkers will be compared between active tPBM group and sham tPBM group.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Triple (Participant, Care Provider, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Prevention
Keywords: Intervention; Neuroimaging; Working memory