Effect of Transcranial Near InfraRed Light on Cerebral Function in Young and Healthy Older Subjects: a FMRI Study (TIROC)

Many studies have shown that the extra-cranial application of light in the red and near infrared range (λ=600-1000nm), also called transcranial PhotoBioModulation (tPBM), could have a neuroprotective effect and a positive impact on brain function in the mammalian brain.

At the cellular level, it is thought that the mechanism mainly relies on the activation of the cytochrome C oxidase and/or interfacial nanowater, two photoacceptors located within the mitochondria that absorb red and near infrared photons. The interaction between the photons and the photoacceptor results in a cascade of secondary events, activating the respiratory chain and increasing Adenosine TriPhosphate (ATP) synthesis, the main source of energy in the cell.

In humans, an increasing number of studies have reported an improvement of cognitive functions after one or several tPBM sessions in patients suffering Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease, or in cases of stroke. Recently, some EEG and fMRI studies on healthy subjects, young and/or old, have also reported a modification of neuronal activation patterns at rest or during the performance of a cognitive task.

Regarding tPBM, this is a non-pharmacological and non-surgical treatment, for which no adverse effects have been reported. Further, the FDA has already approved the use of several PBM devices for therapeutic use in humans, for example, the treatment of pain, inflammation or dermal conditions.

Those preliminary results in humans are thus very encouraging. However, the precise mechanism of action remains to be better characterised, and further studies are required to better define its effects on the human brain and its indications for a therapeutic use. Moreover the extent tPBM influence on the brain of the elderly is still very unclear. In the present study, the investigators aim to evaluate brain function before and after a tPBM session, during the realisation of a motor task or at rest, while comparing a group of young and elderly subjects.

The working hypotheses of the investigators are as follows :

• tPBM will improve motor performances and brain function of all subjects, and to a greater extent that of the older subjects
• tPBM will change brain activity, reorganising large scale neuronal networks at rest.

Inclusion criteria

• Man or woman
• Aged 18 to 40 (young group), or 60 to 85 (elderly)
• Right-handed (Edinburgh score for hand laterality >70%)
• No taking psychoactive or anti-depressants medicine
• Normal or corrected vision
• Having expressed their consent to the research
• Affiliated to a social security scheme
• Registered in the national file of people lend themselves to biomedical research

Exclusion criteria

• Known cognitive disorder, neurologic trouble, neurodegenerative disease or psychiatric illness,
• Motor disorder able to impair the task management
• Contraindication for MRI (metallic implant, non-removable piercing, pace-maker, metallic prosthesis, claustrophobia , …)
• Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score <26
• People referred to in Articles L1121-5 to L1121-8 of the Public Health Code(corresponds to all protected persons: pregnant, parturient or breastfeeding women, persons deprived of liberty by judicial or administrative decision, persons subject of psychiatric care, minors, and persons subject to a legal protection measure: guardianship, curators or safeguard of justice)
• Persons in period of exclusion from another clinical investigation
• Subjects participating in another clinic investigation,
• Subjects who would receive more than 4500 euros in compensation due to his participation in other biomedical research in the 12 months preceding this study