Possible Novel Treatment to Improve Cognition in Persons with Alzheimer’s Disease

A new study by the Lighting Research Center (LRC) demonstrates that 40 Hz red light stimulation delivered to open eyes of healthy young adults increases brain gamma oscillations. Gamma oscillations are associated with attention and memory processes and are known to be disrupted in persons with Alzheimer’s Disease. The next steps are to investigate whether this promising, non-pharmacological lighting intervention can improve cognition in persons with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease. The paper Flickering Red-Light Stimulus for Promoting Coherent 40 Hz Neural Oscillation: A Feasibility Study was published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Visit our YouTube channel to watch a summary of the study: https://youtu.be/rOWdZi2_wM8.

Sahin, Levent and Figueiro, Mariana G. ‘Flickering Red-Light Stimulus for Promoting Coherent 40 Hz Neural Oscillation: A Feasibility Study’. 1 Jan. 2020: 911 – 921. https://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-alzheimers-disease/jad200179

Correspondence to: Mariana G. Figueiro, PhD, Lighting Research Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 21 Union Street, Troy, NY 12180, USA. Tel.: +1 518 276 7142; E-mail: [email protected].