Effect of Transcranial NIR Light Upon Memory

Effect of Transcranial Near Infrared Light 1068 nm Upon Memory Performance in Ageing Healthy Individuals: a Pilot Study.

A double-blind placebo-controlled study evaluating the effect of 1068nm NIR trans-cranial phototherapy upon the cognitive function of healthy individuals between the age of 45 years and 80 years.

Interested participants will be sent a participant information bundle consisting of the participant information sheet, consent document, and data collection sheets. One week after receiving these documents, they will be contacted by a member of the research team to ascertain if they wish to participate. If the individual wishes to participate in the trial, an appointment at a mutually convenient time will be made for the volunteer to be seen. The initial screening interview will be conducted by a trained research assistant. At this appointment, the research assistant will explain the details of the trial and offer an opportunity for the volunteer to ask questions. The consent document will then be completed by the volunteer and countersigned by the researcher.

1. The volunteer will have several days to decide whether they wish to participate in the trial as they will have received the information pack in the mail previously. The volunteer would have the option of speaking to the Investigator directly before enrolling.
2. The volunteer will have an opportunity to ask questions and have any points of concern clarified.
3. Informed consent will be obtained from the volunteer.
4. The volunteer will be interviewed and a detailed history is taken. Baseline information regarding the volunteer's circumstance will be gathered, including confirming the MMSE score is >28 (a score of <28 is an exclusion criterion).
5. The volunteer will be allocated a number and will we offered a choice of appointment times and will be seen on three separate occasions for assessment of their executive function and memory. Three tests are necessary to average the day-to-day variation present in cognitive functioning.
6. Testing will be rescheduled if the volunteer has a minor intercurrent illness eg. Flu, minor viral infection.
7. After the third ANAM assessment the volunteer will proceed to receive the intervention.
8. Intervention procedure: Once allocated to either active or placebo group everyone will be given a trans-cranial intervention device to take home with them. They will be shown how to use the device, which should be used for 6 minutes twice daily every day of the week.
9. Telephone contact will be made by a researcher with the participant every 2 weeks throughout the intervention period to make the following verbal observations:

a. has there been any change in the health of the participant? b. Are there any problems with the device? j. After 56 days of twice-daily intervention, the participant will be scheduled for re-assessment on three separate days. They will continue with the use of the NIR helmet device until the last assessment is completed.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged ≥45 years, ≤ 80 years
• MMSE score >28 (out of 30)
• No chronic illnesses other than hypertension, asthma, or mild COPD
• Stable, controlled chronic illness e.g. hypertension, asthma, COPD

Exclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosed actively growing intracranial pathology (tumors etc.)
• Mental health illness
• Misuse of illegal substances or alcohol
• Use of regular systemic steroids or cancer drugs
• Cancers that affect your body
• Not fluent in English
• Depressed, or feeling depressed.
• Epilepsy
• Lacking capacity to give informed consent
• Previous history of stroke
• History of aggression or violence
• Inability to attend the research venue for assessment
• Assessed as probably being non-complaint with the intervention regime
• Diabetes
• Diagnosed with a neurological condition eg. Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis
• Diagnosed with dementia of any cause
• Chronic pain disorders
• Volunteers taking medication which would impair cognitive function such as gabapentin, pregabalin, strong opiates (e.g. morphine)
• Any chronic illness other than hypertension, asthma, or mild COPD.
• Not being available for all the assessment sessions.
• Participants currently involved in any other research program