Age-specific Neurovascular Effects of Transcranial Photobiomodulation
University of Oklahoma
Summary
The goal of this pilot 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 older adults. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does tPBM enhance neurovascular coupling responses during memory and finger tapping tasks? * Are these improvements linked to better cognitive performance 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 either active tPBM or sham stimulation sessions for 4 weeks, every other day using a portable intervention device. * 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), transcranial doppler (TCD) flowmetry. * Retinal vessel reactivity will be measured during flickering light stimulus using a special camera (dynamic vessel analysis, DVA). * Provide blood samples to test for biomarkers of inflammation, oxidative stress and brain cell damage.
Description
Cognitive decline is a major cause of disability in older adults, and vascular pathologies play a critical role in the genesis of age-related cognitive impairment. Despite advances in understanding the pathophysiology of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI), effective interventions remain scarce. Neurovascular coupling (NVC), the physiological process that adjusts local cerebral blood flow to neuronal activity, is essential for maintaining optimal brain function. According to our preclinical and clinical studies, along with accumulating evidence from other research groups, dysregulation of NVC…