Does light therapy affect quality of life and movement in people with Parkinson's Disease?
- Conditions
- Parkinson's DiseaseNeurological - Neurodegenerative diseasesNeurological - Parkinson's disease
- Registration Number
- ACTRN12618000038291
- Lead Sponsor
- Active Rehabilitation Physiotherapy
- Brief Summary
Measures of mobility, cognition, dynamic balance and fine motor skill were significantly improved with PBM treatment for 12 weeks and up to one year. Many individual improvements were above the minimal clinically important difference, the threshold judged to be meaningful for participants. Individual improvements varied but many continued for up to one year with sustained home treatment. Further home-based application of PBM was shown to be an effective treatment for a number of clinical signs of PD, with some being maintained for 45 weeks. At 2 and 3 year follow-up, participants were assessed for mobility, fine motor control, balance, and cognition. Median values for mobility and cognition continued to improve to 2 years and slightly declined to 3-years although not to pre-treatment levels. Individual participants typically improved in some outcome measures to 2-years and some participants continued to improve to 3-years. Cognition was the most sustained outcome improvement and static balance the least. Two participants who discontinued treatment after 1 year showed a decline in outcome measures. No negative side-effects of the treatment were reported. In conclusion, results suggested that at-home photobiomodulation treatment was effective to maintain improvements in clinical signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease for as long as treatment continued. We have observed changes in the microbiome of Parkinson’s patients after a 12-week treatment regimen with photobiomodulation to the abdomen, neck, head and nose. Noted were positive changes in the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes (F:B) ratio, which is often interpreted as a proxy for gut health.
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- Active, not recruiting
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 36
Group 1: Study participants will be those diagnosed by the treating Neurologist as having Parkinson’s Disease that meet the criteria; and
Group 2: A significant family member/carer, nominated by the person in Group 1 and living with the participant with Parkinson’s Disease.
Inclusion criteria Group 1:
•Females and males aged 30–80 years
•Diagnosed with Idiopathic PD (by UK Brain Bank Criteria) with Modified Hoehn & Yahr (H&Y) Stage I-III during ON periods
•More than or equal to 3weeks of stable anti-Parkinson’s Disease medication.
Inclusion criteria Group 2:
•Females and males aged 18 years and over.
•Ability to make observations relating to their spouse/family member or are a significant carer who lives with the participant with Parkinson's Disease as described for Group 1.
•Ability to mark on an observation diary any noted changes in parameters of interest.
Group 1.
Patients will be excluded from the study, if they:
•Have a cognitive impairment with Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) score of <24
•History of significant psychotic episode(s) within the previous 12 months
•History of suicidal ideation or attempted suicide within previous 12 months.
•Take potentially photosensitizing medication, especially imipramine, hypericum, phenothiazine, lithium, chloroquine, hydrochlorothiazide, or tetracycline
•Have a history of structural brain disease, active epilepsy, stroke or acute illness, factors affecting gait performance and stance such as severe joint disease, orthopaedic injuries, weakness, peripheral neuropathy with proprioceptive deficits, severe peripheral vascular occlusive disease, severe musculoskeletal disorders, uncorrected vision , vestibular problems or other severe conditions that would:
-preclude the use of PBM therapy
-place the patient at risk during evaluation of their PD, or
-interfere with the evaluation of their PD
•Patients who are currently participating in other trials regarding the treatment of PD, such as advanced therapies (Duodopa, Apomorphine, DBS).
Exclusion criteria Group 2:
•Lack of personal contact on a regular basis with the Group 1 participant with Parkinson's Disease and are unable to comment on sleep characteristics.
Study & Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Study Design
- Not specified
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method