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Methodology Issues in a Tailored Light Treatment for Persons With Dementia

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Depression
Sleep Disturbances
Interventions
Other: Inactive intervention
Other: Tailored Active intervention
Registration Number
NCT01816152
Lead Sponsor
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Brief Summary

Tailored light treatment will increase sleep efficiency, reduce depression and reduce agitation scores in those with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia

Detailed Description

In a within subjects, randomized placebo control study, a tailored light treatment will be used for short-term (4 weeks). Outcome measures include sleep measures (actigraphy), and questionnaires probing behavior and mood in those who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. After a 4-week washout period, a placebo control inactive light will be used for another 4 weeks.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
45
Inclusion Criteria
  • mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD)
Exclusion Criteria
  • major organ failure,
  • major illness,
  • history of head injury,
  • hypertension or diabetes,
  • use psychotropic (sleep aid) medicine, obstructing cataracts, macular degeneration, and blindness

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Inactive interventionInactive interventionLight levels, primary and secondary measurements are obtained after a 4-week intervention period where an inactive lighting is experienced by patients
Active InterventionTailored Active interventionLight levels, primary and secondary measurements are obtained after a 4-week intervention period where active lighting is experienced by patients.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Sleep DisturbanceChange from Baseline (week 0) and intervention (week 4)

Caregivers and subjects are asked to complete the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), which is assessed at baseline and after 4 weeks they are exposed to the lighting intervention. The seven component scores are summed to provide a global score ranging from 0 to 21 and a score of 5 or above indicates sleep disturbance. A higher number indications a greater sleep disturbance

DepressionChange from Baseline (week 0) and intervention (week 4)

Caregivers and subjects are asked to fill out subjective questionnaires assessing depression using the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD) Questionnaires are assessed at baseline and after 4 weeks they are exposed to the lighting intervention. The CSDD consists of 19 questions rated on a scale of 0 to 2 with all scores summed for a total score. A score greater than 12 indicates depression and a higher score indicates greater depression.

AgitationChange from Baseline (week 0) and intervention (week 4)

Caregivers and subjects are asked to fill out the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Score, which is assessed at baseline and after 4 weeks they are exposed to the lighting intervention. All scores are summed for one total score - a higher score indicates more agitation

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Activity of Daily LivingChange from Baseline (week 0) and intervention (week 4)

Caregivers and subjects are asked to fill out subjective Activity of Daily Living questionnaire (MDS-ADL), which is assessed at baseline and after 4 weeks they are exposed to the lighting intervention. Scores range from 4 to 18 and a higher score indicates a higher dependence.

Light/dark patternsChange from Baseline (week 0) and intervention (week 4)

Subjects are asked to wear a calibrated light meter to obtain light/dark and activity/rest patterns for 7 days prior to intervention and for 7 days after 3 weeks that the light treatment is applied. These data are used to determine circadian disruption (correlation between light/dark and activity/rest) and light dose.

ActigraphyChange from Baseline (week 0) and intervention (week 4)

Subjects are asked to wear an actigraph to obtain activity/rest patterns for 7 days prior to intervention and for 7 days after 3 weeks that the light treatment is applied. Actigraphs are used to measure sleep efficiency.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

🇺🇸

New York, New York, United States

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