U of A: Can Near-Infrared Light Help Reduce Alzheimer’s Risk?

TUCSON – A University of Arizona and University of Florida research team is putting a recent $3.8 million grant to work to find out whether near-infrared light application in some older adults can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline.

The study will include 168 participants ages 65 to 89 who are at a higher Alzheimer’s risk because of cognitive complaints or family history, but who are presently cognitively healthy. The test is administered by near-infrared photo biomodulation, where near-infrared light is applied to the individuals in the study via diodes placed inside the nostril or on the head’s surface.

U of A psychology and psychiatry professor Gene Alexander says brain energy is key. “We think near-infrared light can help enhance energy metabolism and mitochondrial function; mitochondria are essentially the engines in the cell that produce energy. The idea is that we might be able to enhance cognitive and brain function by exposing people to this light for periods of time,” detailed Alexander, who is also a professor at the university’s Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute.

Alexander says the study focuses on boosting brain function in targeted areas. “We’re trying to enhance function in some key areas of the brain that we think are important for aging and Alzheimer’s risk – brain areas like the temporal and frontal lobes, which are important for aspects of memory and complex executive functions like problem-solving skills,” he explained.

For the first two weeks, study participants will go to a lab three times per week. The next 10 weeks, they will only visit the lab once a week. The near-infrared intranasal devices and light caps will be worn for about 40 minutes during each visit. Participants will also use one of the intranasal devices at home every day for 25 minutes.

Some study participants really will receive near-infrared light treatments, while others will be given placebo treatments. Participants won’t know which group they are in, as near-infrared light doesn't produce heat and can't be seen.

Prior to and after the near-infrared light exposure intervention, participants will undergo MRI scans to quantify their brain’s resting state connectivity. They will also complete neuropsychological testing in addition to a specialized MRI called magnetic resonance spectroscopy, which measures the brain’s mitochondrial function.

Three months after the near-infrared light exposure sessions are finished, participants will get tested to find out if the intervention provided any lasting changes or effects.

“If it’s something that turns out to be beneficial, it could help – possibly in combination with other treatments or on its own – to prevent cognitive aging and Alzheimer’s-related effects,” said Alexander.

The near-infrared light treatments, if successful, could provide a low-cost, safe alternative in battling Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline, “but a lot more work would need to be done,” Alexander concluded.