Recruiting · registry status

Light therapy for walking and balance

Researchers are testing light applied to the head to investigate walking and balance in Parkinson's.

Testing a treatment or activity · Study reference: RBR-9ygjt3q

Plain-language introduction written with AI from the registry; not independently checked by a clinician. Read the original details below ↓

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Results reported

Start (reported date): 2026-06-02
Study finished (reported date): 2028-08-31

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Changes we have recorded

2026-10-11 — recruiting

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Papers connected to this study

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Who can join?

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Sex eligibility reported by registry: -

Inclusion criteria: Diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson's disease made by a neurologist, based on the United Kingdom Parkinson's Disease Society Brain Bank criteria; disease stage between 1 and 3 on the Hoehn and Yahr scale; both sexes; no age limit Exclusion criteria: History of orthopedic and/or visual conditions that compromise the execution of the experimental protocol; presence of uncontrolled diseases that may affect peripheral sensory functions (e.g., diabetes); contraindications to the application of tPBM, such as epilepsy, structural brain alterations, or use of photosensitizing medications (e.g., imipramine, phenothiazines, lithium, chloroquine, hydrochlorothiazide, tetracycline); presence of dementia, defined by a score lower than 20 on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) (Brucki et al., 2003); and non-adherence to the 18 planned intervention sessions and/or evaluations

Full study name & original research details

Official study title

Effect of transcranial photobiomodulation on gait, postural control, cognition, and biomarkers in people with Parkinson's disease

Short title used by the registry

How Brain Light Therapy Can Help People with Parkinson's Walk Better and Stay Balanced

Original description

Intervention: This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-arm parallel clinical trial involving 38 participants with Parkinson's disease, randomly allocated into two groups of 19 participants each: Intervention Group and Placebo Group (sham). Randomization will be stratified by age and sex, with one-to-one allocation. The study will be double-blind: the person responsible for administering the transcranial photobiomodulation sessions will not take part in data collection, and the data collectors will be blinded to group allocation. The Intervention Group will receive active transcranial photobiomodulation applied to the prefrontal cortex, with a wavelength of 810 nanometers and a power of 3.5 watts, three times per week, for 12 minutes per session, over six weeks, totaling 18 sessions. The Placebo Group will use the same equipment, with the same frequency and duration, but in simulated mode, without light emission. Participants will be assessed before the intervention, immediately after the 18 sessions, and three months after the end of the intervention, through clinical, cognitive, gait and postural control biomechanical assessments, electromyographic measures, functional near-infrared spectroscopy, and blood collection for analysis of brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Primary outcome: To evaluate the effects of 18 sessions of transcranial photobiomodulation on spatiotemporal gait parameters and postural control, with and without dual task, in people with Parkinson's disease; verified by means of inertial sensors and a force platform; changes are expected to be observed in gait speed, step length, cadence, swing time, double support time, and step variability, as well as in the amplitude, mean velocity, and median frequency of center of pressure oscillation Secondary outcome: To evaluate the effects of 18 sessions of transcranial photobiomodulation on cortical activity and serum biomarker levels in people with Parkinson's disease; verified by means of functional near-infrared spectroscopy and blood collection; changes are expected to be observed in the concentration of oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin in the prefrontal cortex and in serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor

Conditions reported: Gait Disorders, Neurologic; Postural Balance; Cognitive Dysfunction Parkinson's disease

Registry records for this study

Records are joined using registration identifiers. Titles alone do not establish that two studies are the same.

REBEC · RBR-9ygjt3q ↗ — Recruiting; WHO ICTRP processed 2026-08-03; checked 2026-10-11

Study type: Interventional
Interventions: This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-arm parallel clinical trial involving 38 participants with Parkinson's disease, randomly allocated into two groups of 19 participants each: Intervention Group and Placebo Group (sham). Randomization will be stratified by age and sex, with one-to-one allocation. The study will be double-blind: the person responsible for administering the transcranial photobiomodulation sessions will not take part in data collection, and the data collectors will be blinded to group allocation. The Intervention Group will receive active transcranial photobiomodulation applied to the prefrontal cortex, with a wavelength of 810 nanometers and a power of 3.5 watts, three times per week, for 12 minutes per session, over six weeks, totaling 18 sessions. The Placebo Group will use the same equipment, with the same frequency and duration, but in simulated mode, without light emission. Participants will be assessed before the intervention, immediately after the 18 sessions, and three months after the end of the intervention, through clinical, cognitive, gait and postural control biomechanical assessments, electromyographic measures, functional near-infrared spectroscopy, and blood collection for analysis of brain-derived neurotrophic factor.
Phases: N/A
Sponsor: Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho
Start date reported by registry: 2026-06-02 (reported)

Registry updated: Not reported · Status last verified by the registry submitter: Not reported

Registry records retrieved 2026-10-11 (UTC). Individual records may have older updates. Recruitment and eligibility must be confirmed with the study team.

Contact the research team

Public study contacts supplied to the registry. Ask whether recruitment is still open and what participation involves.

Bruno Furlanetto · +55-14-997348793 · bruno.furlanetto@unesp.br

Study locations

Site status can differ from overall study status. “Status not reported” means local availability needs confirmation. Remote participation and travel arrangements must be checked with the team.

Facility not reported

Status not reported

The original descriptions and participation rules come from the registry. Participation is voluntary and does not guarantee benefit.