NCT06295458

Gamma Sensory Flicker for Parkinson's Disease Patients With Freezing of Gait

• Status: Active Not Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 24 (actual)
• Sponsor: Emory University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 50 Years – 80 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This study aims to answer the question: to assess the safety, and tolerability of gamma light in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with freezing of gait (FOG). Parkinson's disease (PD) patients often experience a complex gait disorder known as Freezing of Gait (FOG). FOG is characterized by brief arrests of stepping when initiating gait, turning, and walking straight and patients describe it as their feet being "glued" to the floor. FOG in Parkinson's disease (PD) is a considerable public health burden worldwide. It is a poorly understood gait symptom that has potentially grave consequences as FOG is intermittent and unpredictable, a leading cause of falls with injury, and results in loss of independence. FOG is generally found to be associated with cognitive decline, particularly executive dysfunction which, in turn, has been associated with higher spinal fluid amyloid (Aβ42) levels in PD. There is data linking amyloid to FOG. A previous study showed that the gamma light helped reduce some amyloid. The research team is studying if gamma light exposure for 1 hour daily is well tolerated. Also, does it have any effect on freezing of gait severity?

Detailed description

This will be a sham-controlled study with one group receiving the sensory stimulation and the other receiving sham stimulation. Exposure will be provided by wearing a pair of glasses and headphones. Both of these will be connected to a device that will provide light and sound during the daily 1-hour session. Gamma light appeared in a previous study to have potential as a non-invasive, non-medication approach to reduce amyloid from the brain. This study will investigate if the link between amyloid and FOG can be changed and improve FOG. Gamma is a short wavelength of light and/or sound between 25-140Hz. Previous research suggested that 40Hz can potentially activate cells in the brain to remove amyloid. Amyloid is a protein that forms in the spaces between nerve cells in the brain in diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. This study also has two optional parts. One option is to undergo two lumbar punctures at the baseline and Month 6 visits. The other option is to participate in a one-year extension of the study. Blood draws will be used to verify levodopa levels in the blood during both the ON and OFF Parkinson's disease medication states. Optional lumbar punctures will be performed at baseline and 6 months to collect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples which will be analyzed for change in amyloid levels before and after treatment. An electroencephalogram (EEG) will be utilized at the beginning of the study to evaluate the brain's response to the stimulus. Cognitive testing will be administered to capture any cognitive changes. Questionnaires used will provide any changes to the participant's self-evaluation. The duration of the blinded portion is approximately 7 months. The optional extension portion will have two in-clinic visits at month 12 and month 18. Participants will be enrolled from the Emory University movement disorder clinic.

Conditions

• Gait Disorders, Neurologic
• Parkinson Disease

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	David Delight Plus Device	Flicker exposure via a light and sound device-based stimulation-provided sensory stimulation device. The DAVID Delight Plus device consists of light-emitting goggles and sound-emitting headphones that are turned on and off with a repetition rate of 40 Hz connected to a controller operated by the participant or study partner (if the participant elects to have an optional study partner). At the baseline visit, light and sound intensity levels (auditory: 0-80 dBA, visual: 0-1400 lux) will be programmed into each participant's controller based on their unique response to tolerance and EEG entrainment testing which occurred at screening. The participant may not detect gamma-flicker frequency.
OTHER	Sham Therapy	Sham therapy will be provided in the same manner as the flicker light. The difference is that it will be a constant light and sound from the same device instead of the 40hz light treatment and sound.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-07-08
• Primary completion: 2026-06-01
• Completion: 2027-06-01
• First posted: 2024-03-06
• Last updated: 2026-03-05

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States

Regulatory

• FDA-regulated device study