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P3–287: A phase I clinical trial suggests nutritional supplement combination therapy is feasible, safe and tolerable in cognitively normal adults
Author(s) -
Auerbach Sanford,
McNamara Patrick,
Harris Erica,
Abrams Emily,
Lombardo Nancy Emerson
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1016/j.jalz.2013.05.1361
Subject(s) - medicine , pill , adverse effect , blood pressure , regimen , physical therapy , pharmacology
Background: Rest-activity and sleep-wake cycles are controlled by the endogenous circadian rhythm generated by the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the hypothalamus. Degenerative changes in the SCN appear to be a biological basis for circadian disturbances in peoplewith dementia, and may be reversed by stimulation of the SCN by light. This is an update of our previous systematic review published in The Cochrane Library in 2009. Methods: To assess the evidence of effectiveness of light therapy in improving cognitive, sleep, functional, behavioural, or mood disturbances associated with dementia. The Specialized Register of the Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group (CDCIG), The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL and LILACS as well as other databases were searched on 27 November 2012. The inclusion criteria were a ll relevant, randomized clinical trials in which light therapy, at any intensity and duration, was compared with a control group for the effect of improving cognition, sleep, function, behavioural, or mood disturbances in persons with dementia of any type and degree of severity. Two reviewers independently assessed the retrieved articles for relevance and risk of bias, and will extract data from the selected studies. Statistically significant differences in outcomes between the treatment and control groups will be examined. Each studywill be summarized using ameasure of effect.Results:Our previous review included nine trials, however, three could not be included in the analyses because of unavailable data. The review revealed no adequate evidence of the effectiveness of light therapy in improving symptoms associated with dementia. However, our most recent search results revealed three new studies that meet our inclusion criteria. These studies are showing promise in slowing cognitive decline and function (Laborie, 2010), in increasing sleep wake time (McCurry, 2011), and increasing sleep efficiency with sleep becoming more consolidated (Nowak 2008). Conclusions: While there was insufficient evidence to assess the effect of light therapy for people with dementia in our previous review, these three additional studies are showing promising results. They will be added to our previous review, further examined and analysed using meta-analysis, with a completed review by June 2013.