Cognitive Enhancement Through Transcranial Laser Therapy

 描述（由申请人提供）：心血管疾病与认知功能下降相关，即使在没有血管性痴呆的患者中也是如此。考虑到这些疾病在美国的高患病率，以及认知是老年人生活质量和功能能力的最重要决定因素，早期干预以保护心血管风险患者的认知功能对于确保我们不断增长的老年人口的成功老龄化至关重要。虽然理想的干预措施可以恢复原始的心血管状态，但由于各种原因，这通常是不可能的。一个替代 一种新的方法是通过上调线粒体呼吸来支持大脑能量生产。一种非常有前途的新型干预是经颅低水平激光治疗（LLLT）， 低功率和高通量的光能量从红外激光刺激大脑能量的生产。LLLT是安全的，非侵入性的和治疗上有益的，促进能量产生，基因表达和预防细胞死亡的增强。本研究的目的是检测LLLT对中年人神经认知功能的影响，并研究其对颈动脉粥样硬化的调节作用。具体目标将在一项随机对照试验（RCT）中完成，方法是检查LLLT或安慰剂8周干预前后中年成人对工作记忆任务的认知测试表现和血氧水平依赖性（BOLD）反应。此外，我们将研究颈动脉内膜中层厚度（IMT）是否调节LLLT的治疗效果。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Cardiovascular diseases are associated with diminished cognitive function, even in patients without vascular dementia. Considering the high prevalence of these disorders in the United States, and the fact that cognition is the most important determinant of quality of life and functional ability in older age, early interventions t preserve cognitive function in patients at cardiovascular risk are crucial for ensuring the successful aging of our growing elderly population. While an ideal intervention would restore the original cardiovascular status, that is often not possible for a variety of reasons. An alternative approach is to support brain energy production by up-regulating mitochondrial respiration. One highly promising novel intervention is transcranial low-level laser therapy (LLLT) with directional low-power and high-fluence light energy from infrared lasers to stimulate brain energy production. LLLT is safe, non-invasive and therapeutically beneficial, promoting enhancement of energy production, gene expression and prevention of cell death. The goal of this project is to test the efficacy of LLLT to enhance neurocognitive function in middle-aged adults and examine the modulating influences of carotid atherosclerosis. The specific aims will be accomplished in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) by examining cognitive test performance and blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) response to a working memory task in middle-aged adults pre- and post- 8-week long intervention of LLLT or placebo. In addition, we will examine if carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) moderates the therapeutic effects of LLLT.