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Pilot Study of Near Infrared Stimulation for Aging and Cognition

This study is testing if near infrared (NIR) light stimulation can help with age-related changes in thinking abilities and mood in older adults. Researchers believe that NIR stimulation, delivered through devices like the Medx Console System or Vielight 810, may improve brain health. You could be eligible if you are between 65 and 89 years old, do not have dementia or mild cognitive impairment, and meet certain cognitive screening requirements. The study aims to see if participants show better learning, memory, and mood after receiving NIR stimulation. The study is currently unclear on its recruitment status and plans to enroll 24 participants.

Study design
This is a multi-site pilot study that will randomly assign 24 older adults to different treatment groups. It involves both "lab" and "home-based" NIR stimulation.
What's involved
You would participate in 16 lab sessions over 12 weeks, each lasting about 1.5 hours, and potentially daily at-home sessions for 25 minutes, 4 days a week.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your learning and memory will be measured again about one week after the intervention ends (around Week 14).

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT03551392

Pilot Intervention With Near Infrared Stimulation

Completed
NAAges 65–89InterventionalTreatment
University of Florida
~30 participants
Updated 2026-08-05 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Medx Console SystemSham Medx Console SystemVielight 810 intranasal stand alone unitSham Vielight 810 intranasal stand alone unit

At a glance

Recruiting sites
0 of 2 listed sites are recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
ARENA, learning and memory change from baseline to post-testing
Measured over Baseline to one-week post intervention (approx Week 14)

Conditions

Aging

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Aging

NCT03551392

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 2 sites. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • University of Arizona

    Tucson, Arizonano site contact published

  • University of Florida

    Gainesville, Floridano site contact published

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

  • Dawn Bowers, Ph.D. · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Florida
  • Adam Woods, Ph.D. · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Texas
  • Gene Alexander, Ph.D. · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Arizona

Who to contact

This trial hasn't published a contact. View it on ClinicalTrials.gov

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

No evidence of dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment based on cognitive screening (i.e., Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores within normal limits for age , education, and sex using the NACC Uniform Data Set (UDS) norms or Dementia Rating Scale (DRS-2) scores \<5thile), and age-appropriate delayed Story recall (i.e., WMS-III Logical Memory) and confrontation naming (Boston Naming Test)
Able to provide informed consent and perform cognitive and mood measures on a computer
At least 8th grade education and/or ability to read at 8th grade level
Willingness to be randomized to Sham or Real intervention
Can devote 12 weeks to the intervention, and additional time for pre and post testing
On stable doses of major medications; Since some older adults with subjective memory complaints may be prescribed acetylcholinererase inhibitors or related medications by their primary care physicians (i.e., donepezil, rivastigmine, galantaominhe, memantime, or other potential memory-enhancing agent(s), we will not exclude them as long as they have been on stable medications for at least two months and plan to continue this medication during study participation.
Normal functional behavior in terms of daily activities

Exclusion

Previous major strokes or other known significant brain abnormalities or diseases affecting cognition (i.e., multiple sclerosis, seizure disorder, brain surgery, moderate TBI, etc.). No history of brain surgery. Exceptions are a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease for the PD subgroup.
Unstable and uncontrolled medical conditions (metabolic encephalopathy, HIV, moderate to severe kidney or liver disease)
Current or past history of major psychiatric disturbance including schizophrenia, or active psychosis, bipolar disorder, current major depressive episode, current alcohol or substance abuse or history thereof within the past six months. The study team is not excluding individuals who are taking antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications, however, use of antidepressants and anxiolytics will be recorded and data will be analyzed in post-hoc analyses
Use of antipsychotics, sedatives, or other medications with significant anticholinergic properties (due to potential influence on memory)
Use of photo-sensitive medications such as steroids or retin-A within 15 days of the study intervention
Diagnosis of active cancer
Significant motor or visual disturbance that would prevent one from using a computer or detecting colors
Previous participation in a cognitive training study within the last 3 months or current involvement in another study involving cognitive training or intervention at the time of participation
Inability to undergo brain imaging due to claustrophobia or implants such as pacemakers, heart valves, brain aneurysm clips, orthodontics, non-removable body jewelry, or shrapnel containing ferromagnetic metal

What this trial measures

  • ARENA, learning and memory change from baseline to post-testingBaseline to one-week post intervention (approx Week 14)

    Spatial navigation and memory task yields a score consisting of percent time spent in the target quadrant during the probe trial.