Trial results for a study investigating light therapy for Parkinson's Disease were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2026-03-05, with 203 participants enrolled.
Background
Parkinson's Disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor symptoms such as tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia. However, non-motor symptoms like sleep disturbances and fatigue are also highly prevalent and significantly impact the quality of life for individuals with the condition. Addressing these non-motor symptoms is a key area of research, with non-pharmacological interventions like light therapy being explored for their potential to improve patient well-being.
Trial design
This completed study, designated as Phase NA, enrolled 203 participants to investigate conditions including Parkinson Disease, Sleep Disorder, and Fatigue. The study's primary aim was to determine the most effective dose of light therapy to improve sleep in people with Parkinson's Disease. Participants were divided into four groups, receiving either bright-white light therapy (BWLT) or dim-red light therapy (DRLT) at different frequencies throughout the day.
Key results
The trial reported several key measurements related to sleep and fatigue, expressed as least squares mean reductions:
- Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale 2 (score on a scale):
- BWLT Once Daily: -1.5202
- BWLT Twice Daily: -2.5692
- BWLT Weekly: -0.408
- DRLT Twice Daily: -1.7608
- Parkinson's Fatigue Scale 16 (units on a scale):
- BWLT Once Daily: -2.1985
- BWLT Twice Daily: -6.3956
- BWLT Weekly: -0.519
- DRLT Twice Daily: -3.8426
What this means
The posted results indicate that various light therapy regimens led to reductions in both sleep disturbance and fatigue scores in individuals with Parkinson's Disease. Notably, the bright-white light therapy administered twice daily (BWLT Twice Daily) showed the largest reductions in both the Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale 2 score (-2.5692) and the Parkinson's Fatigue Scale 16 score (-6.3956). These findings suggest that specific light therapy protocols could be a beneficial non-pharmacological approach for managing these challenging non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's Disease, warranting further investigation into optimal dosing and long-term efficacy.
Source
The information regarding these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT04291014, titled "Light Therapy for PD - Dose Selection", were posted on 2026-03-05 on clinicaltrials.gov.