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Far-Infrared Therapy for the Effect of Alzheimer Disease Dementia

23 giugno 2026 aggiornato da: Juin-Hong Cherng

To Explore the Effect of Far Infrared Therapy on Cognitive Function of Patients With Dementia

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia, is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline, including impaired learning ability, memory loss, and behavioral disturbances.

According to surveys conducted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in Taiwan, the prevalence of dementia among individuals aged 65 years and older was estimated at 7.86% in 2018, affecting more than 280,000 individuals, and is projected to approach 900,000 by 2065, resulting in substantial medical, social, and economic burdens. Current pharmacological treatments provide only limited symptomatic benefits and may be associated with adverse effects. Therefore, safe and effective non-pharmacological interventions that may support cognitive function and reduce caregiver burden are urgently needed.

Experimental studies suggest that far-infrared (FIR) irradiation may enhance mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, increase ATP production, and promote microglial amyloid-β clearance, which may help delay the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

This trial aims to investigate the safety and effects of far-infrared (FIR) therapy on cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

The findings may support the clinical application of FIR therapy as a non-pharmacological intervention to improve cognitive function and quality of life, reduce medication burden and treatment-related side effects, lessen caregiver burden, delay institutionalization, and reduce the social and economic burden associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Panoramica dello studio

Stato

Reclutamento

Condizioni

Intervento / Trattamento

Descrizione dettagliata

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia, is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline, memory impairment, behavioral disturbances, and deterioration in activities of daily living. According to surveys conducted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in Taiwan, the prevalence of dementia among individuals aged 65 years and older was estimated at 7.86% in 2018, affecting more than 280,000 individuals, and is projected to approach 900,000 by 2065. As the disease progresses, increasing cognitive impairment places substantial medical, social, and economic burdens on patients, caregivers, and healthcare systems. Current pharmacological treatments for Alzheimer's disease provide limited symptomatic benefits and may be associated with adverse effects. Therefore, alternative non-pharmacological interventions that may support cognitive function and improve quality of life are being actively explored.

Experimental studies have suggested that far-infrared (FIR) irradiation may exert beneficial biological effects on mitochondrial function and neuroinflammation. FIR exposure has been reported to enhance mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, increase adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, and improve microglial activity involved in amyloid-β (Aβ) clearance. These mechanisms may potentially delay neurodegeneration associated with Alzheimer's disease progression.

This clinical study is designed as a single-center, randomized, single-blind, parallel-group controlled trial conducted in Taiwan. A total of up to 40 participants with Alzheimer's disease will be enrolled and randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the active FIR treatment group or the sham-control group. The investigational device is the Yin FuRui De Far-Infrared Therapy Device (Model CE-1889), which generates far-infrared wavelengths ranging from 4 to 14 μm.

Participants in the treatment group will receive daily FIR irradiation therapy using a head-mounted FIR device. FIR irradiation will be applied once daily to the Fengfu (GV16) and Baihui (GV20) acupoints for 30 minutes per site. Participants in the control group will use an identical device with the FIR function disabled. Prior to home use, study personnel will provide device-use training and instructions to participants and their caregivers.

The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the safety of the FIR therapy device. Safety assessments will include monitoring the incidence, severity, and relationship of adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs) associated with the investigational device throughout the study period.

Secondary objectives include evaluating changes in cognitive performance using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and assessing mitochondrial function biomarkers obtained from peripheral blood samples. Outcome assessments will be conducted at baseline, Month 1, Month 3, and Month 12.

Safety analyses will be conducted in the Intent-to-Treat (ITT) population. Baseline normal and post-treatment abnormal cases, as well as their proportions, will be summarized separately for the intervention and control groups. The number and incidence rate of adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs) will be calculated and descriptively analyzed. Group comparisons of adverse event incidence will be performed using the Chi-Squared test. Efficacy analyses for MMSE scores and mitochondrial function biomarkers will include paired-sample t tests and independent-sample t tests, as appropriate.

This study aims to determine whether the head-mounted FIR therapy may serve as a safe adjunctive non-pharmacological intervention for patients with Alzheimer's disease to support cognitive function, improve quality of life, reduce caregiver burden, and potentially delay disease progression and institutional care.

Tipo di studio

Interventistico

Iscrizione (Stimato)

40

Fase

  • Non applicabile

Contatti e Sedi

Questa sezione fornisce i recapiti di coloro che conducono lo studio e informazioni su dove viene condotto lo studio.

Contatto studio

  • Nome: Juin-Hong Cherng, Ph.D.
  • Numero di telefono: 18681, 18699 886-2-87923100
  • Email: i72bbb@gmail.com

Backup dei contatti dello studio

  • Nome: Gang-Yi Fan, Ph.D.
  • Numero di telefono: 18699 886-2-8792-3100
  • Email: u9310318@gmail.com

Luoghi di studio

      • Taipei, Taiwan, 11490
        • Reclutamento
        • Trial-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical University
        • Contatto:
        • Contatto:
          • Juin-Hong Cherng, Ph.D.
          • Numero di telefono: 18699, 18681 886-2-87923100
          • Email: i72bbb@gmail.com
        • Investigatore principale:
          • Jiunn-Tay Lee, M.D.
        • Sub-investigatore:
          • Chia-Lin Tsai, Ph.D.
        • Sub-investigatore:
          • Chia-Kuang Tsai, Ph.D.

Criteri di partecipazione

I ricercatori cercano persone che corrispondano a una certa descrizione, chiamata criteri di ammissibilità. Alcuni esempi di questi criteri sono le condizioni generali di salute di una persona o trattamenti precedenti.

Criteri di ammissibilità

Età idonea allo studio

  • Adulto
  • Adulto più anziano

Accetta volontari sani

No

Descrizione

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease dementia.
  2. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score between 18 and 24 (inclusive).
  3. Currently prescribed and maintained on a stable regimen of anti-dementia medication.
  4. No sensory deficits or impairment regarding skin temperature perception.
  5. Patient or a Legally Authorized Representative (LAR) must be willing and capable of providing written informed consent prior to enrollment.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Non-Alzheimer's disease dementia (e.g., vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia).
  2. Known hypersensitivity to heat or light, including the current use of photosensitizing medications.
  3. Diminished thermal or heat sensitivity, such as from the concurrent use of analgesics, sedatives, or consumption of alcoholic beverages.
  4. Acute injury or acute localized inflammation, including active inflammation, infection, or ulcerated wounds.
  5. Concomitant acute venous thrombosis, varicose veins, severe peripheral arterial occlusive disease (Stage III or IV), lymphatic disease, acute rheumatoid arthritis, acute gout, or active fever.
  6. Presence of mottled erythema or other abnormal dermatological conditions on the scalp or neck.
  7. Localized skin lesions, damage, or open wounds at the device contact sites.
  8. Concurrent participation in any other clinical trial.
  9. Any other underlying pathological conditions or clinical statuses that, based on medical consensus, would preclude safe participation in the study.
  10. Failure or refusal to provide signed informed consent.
  11. Inability or unwillingness to comply with the trial protocols, schedules, or required follow-up evaluations.
  12. History or presence of hemorrhagic disorders or bleeding-related diseases.

Piano di studio

Questa sezione fornisce i dettagli del piano di studio, compreso il modo in cui lo studio è progettato e ciò che lo studio sta misurando.

Come è strutturato lo studio?

Dettagli di progettazione

  • Scopo principale: Trattamento
  • Assegnazione: Randomizzato
  • Modello interventistico: Assegnazione parallela
  • Mascheramento: Quadruplicare

Armi e interventi

Gruppo di partecipanti / Arm
Intervento / Trattamento
Sperimentale: Active Far-Infrared (FIR) Therapy

Participants will receive active far-infrared (FIR) therapy using a head-mounted FIR device (Yin Fu Rui De Far-Infrared Therapy Device, Model CE-1889).

The device delivers far-infrared irradiation (4-14 μm) and is applied to Fengfu (GV16) and Baihui (GV20) acupoints for 30 minutes per site, once daily for 12 months.

The intervention will be initiated under supervised training at the study site, followed by home-based self-administration by participants and/or caregivers. Participants will continue their usual medical care without changes to standard pharmacological treatment.

The investigational device is a head-mounted far-infrared therapy device manufactured in Taiwan.

  • Emission wavelength: 4-14 μm
  • Heating mechanism: ceramic semiconductor heating element
  • Design: head-mounted structure with external housing to reduce energy dissipation
  • Application sites: Fengfu (GV16) and Baihui (GV20)

Regulatory status:

Approved medical device (Medical Device License No. 006083 issued by the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA), Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan).

Approved indications include relief of fatigue, improvement of local blood circulation, and reduction of muscle stiffness and neuralgia.

In this study, the device is used investigationally to evaluate potential effects on cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer's disease dementia.

Altri nomi:
  • Yin Fu Rui De Far-Infrared Radiator (Model CE-1899)
Comparatore fittizio: Sham Control

Participants will receive a sham intervention using an identical-appearing head-mounted device (Yin FuRui De Far-Infrared Therapy Device, Model CE-1889) with the far-infrared emission function disabled.

The sham device will be applied to the same acupoints (Fengfu GV16 and Baihui GV20) for 30 minutes per site, once daily for 12 months.

Procedures, duration, and application schedule will be identical to the active treatment group to ensure blinding. The sham device does not emit far-infrared radiation.

The sham device is identical in appearance to the active device but without active far-infrared emission.

It is used to maintain participant blinding and control for non-specific effects in device-based interventions.

Altri nomi:
  • Sham Far-Infrared Device (Model CE-1889)

Cosa sta misurando lo studio?

Misure di risultato primarie

Misura del risultato
Misura Descrizione
Lasso di tempo
Number of Participants With Yin Fu Rui De Far-Infrared Therapy Device-Related Adverse Events (AEs)
Lasso di tempo: Baseline (Day 1), Month 1, Month 3, and Month 12 for each participant.

Safety will be evaluated by tracking any unfavorable clinical occurrence associated with the use of the Yin Fu Rui De far-infrared therapy device, assessed through regular clinical physical examinations and documented via Case Report Forms (CRFs). The unit of measure is the number of participants experiencing at least one AE. Safety analysis will be performed using the Intent-to-Treat (ITT) population (N=40). Following the protocol's statistical plan, the specific clinical manifestations, severity, and device-causality of all AEs will be documented. The proportions of pre-treatment normal versus post-treatment abnormal cases, along with AE incidence rates, will be calculated and compared between the intervention and control groups using the Chi-Squared Test.

Unit of Measure: Number of participants

Baseline (Day 1), Month 1, Month 3, and Month 12 for each participant.
Number of Participants With Yin Fu Rui De Far-Infrared Therapy Device-Related Serious Adverse Events (SAEs)
Lasso di tempo: Time Frame: Baseline (Day 1), Month 1, Month 3, and Month 12 for each participant.
Safety will be evaluated by focusing on serious safety concerns associated with the use of the Yin Fu Rui De far-infrared therapy device, assessed through clinical evaluations and documented via Case Report Forms (CRFs). Serious adverse events (SAEs) are defined as events resulting in death, life-threatening conditions, prolonged hospitalization, or permanent disability. Safety analysis will be performed using the Intent-to-Treat (ITT) population (N=40). The relationship between the device and SAEs will be documented, and the proportions of pre-treatment normal versus post-treatment abnormal cases, alongside SAE incidence rates, will be statistically compared between the intervention and control groups using the Chi-Squared Test.
Time Frame: Baseline (Day 1), Month 1, Month 3, and Month 12 for each participant.

Misure di risultato secondarie

Misura del risultato
Misura Descrizione
Lasso di tempo
Change From Baseline in Cognitive Function Score Assessed by MMSE
Lasso di tempo: Baseline (Day 1), Month 1, Month 3, and Month 12 for each participant.

Assessment of cognitive improvement or decline using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), a standardized 30-point questionnaire. Following the protocol's statistical plan, within-group changes from baseline will be analyzed using paired-sample t-tests, and differences in changes between the intervention and control groups will be compared using independent-sample t-tests.

Unit of Measure: Score on the MMSE scale (Range: 0 to 30, where higher scores indicate better cognitive function)

Baseline (Day 1), Month 1, Month 3, and Month 12 for each participant.
Change From Baseline in Mitochondrial Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) Production Rate
Lasso di tempo: Baseline (Day 1), Month 1, Month 3, and Month 12 for each participant.

Evaluation of mitochondrial energetic pathways and cellular respiration efficiency through peripheral blood biomarker analysis. This test involves collecting blood samples (totaling less than 20 mL) to measure the quantitative rate of mitochondrial ATP production using a standardized fluorometric assay. Following the protocol's statistical plan, within-group changes from baseline will be analyzed using paired-sample t-tests, and differences between the intervention and control groups will be evaluated using independent-sample t-tests.

Unit of Measure: picomoles per minute per milligram of protein (pmol/min/mg)

Baseline (Day 1), Month 1, Month 3, and Month 12 for each participant.

Collaboratori e investigatori

Qui è dove troverai le persone e le organizzazioni coinvolte in questo studio.

Sponsor

Collaboratori

Investigatori

  • Investigatore principale: Jiunn-Tay Lee, M.D., Trial-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical University

Pubblicazioni e link utili

La persona responsabile dell'inserimento delle informazioni sullo studio fornisce volontariamente queste pubblicazioni. Questi possono riguardare qualsiasi cosa relativa allo studio.

Pubblicazioni generali

Studiare le date dei record

Queste date tengono traccia dell'avanzamento della registrazione dello studio e dell'invio dei risultati di sintesi a ClinicalTrials.gov. I record degli studi e i risultati riportati vengono esaminati dalla National Library of Medicine (NLM) per assicurarsi che soddisfino specifici standard di controllo della qualità prima di essere pubblicati sul sito Web pubblico.

Studia le date principali

Inizio studio (Effettivo)

15 ottobre 2022

Completamento primario (Stimato)

31 ottobre 2029

Completamento dello studio (Stimato)

31 ottobre 2029

Date di iscrizione allo studio

Primo inviato

3 giugno 2026

Primo inviato che soddisfa i criteri di controllo qualità

23 giugno 2026

Primo Inserito (Effettivo)

26 giugno 2026

Aggiornamenti dei record di studio

Ultimo aggiornamento pubblicato (Effettivo)

26 giugno 2026

Ultimo aggiornamento inviato che soddisfa i criteri QC

23 giugno 2026

Ultimo verificato

1 maggio 2026

Maggiori informazioni

Termini relativi a questo studio

Altri numeri di identificazione dello studio

  • YIN FU RUI DE 2026

Piano per i dati dei singoli partecipanti (IPD)

Hai intenzione di condividere i dati dei singoli partecipanti (IPD)?

NO

Descrizione del piano IPD

To protect the privacy and confidentiality of the participants in accordance with personal data protection regulations, individual participant data (IPD) will not be publicly shared. The clinical study results will be disseminated exclusively through aggregated data in peer-reviewed scientific publications and official trial registries.

Informazioni su farmaci e dispositivi, documenti di studio

Studia un prodotto farmaceutico regolamentato dalla FDA degli Stati Uniti

No

Studia un dispositivo regolamentato dalla FDA degli Stati Uniti

No

Queste informazioni sono state recuperate direttamente dal sito web clinicaltrials.gov senza alcuna modifica. In caso di richieste di modifica, rimozione o aggiornamento dei dettagli dello studio, contattare register@clinicaltrials.gov. Non appena verrà implementata una modifica su clinicaltrials.gov, questa verrà aggiornata automaticamente anche sul nostro sito web .