Objective: To demonstrate the feasibility of an entirely remote, decentralized clinical trial and evaluate the efficacy and safety of a light therapy device to treat Parkinson’s symptoms.

Background: Individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) experience motor and non-motor symptoms that are not addressed with current pharmaceutical therapies and may be responsive to light therapy. Smaller studies have supported light therapy’s potential as a non-invasive treatment to improve PD symptoms (1). Given the geographically dispersed patient population with limited mobility as well as light therapy’s favorable safety profile and home-based use, this intervention is suited to a decentralized clinical trial design, which brings research directly to participants.

Method: We conducted an entirely remote, decentralized clinical trial of a phase 3 light therapy device among people with PD. Participants were randomized to receive high intensity active light therapy or lower intensity control light therapy through a laptop-sized device. Devices were shipped to participant homes and used every evening for six months. All study activities, including study visits, occurred remotely with central coordination and 17 investigators throughout the US. The primary and key secondary outcome measures were the PDQ-39 and the MDS-UPDRS Parts 1+2, respectively.

Results: Of the 5349 participants who completed the online pre-screening form, the study team enrolled 351 participants with stably treated PD. These participants spanned 17 states, 184 counties, and 12 federally designated Health Professional Shortage Areas. 

As of January 2026, participants have completed 80.5% of expected light therapy sessions. To date, 240 participants have completed the trial and 19% of enrolled participants (N=67) have withdrawn due to time commitment, adverse events, and life changes.

Efficacy and safety results, including changes in PDQ-39 and MDS-UPDRS Parts 1+2 as well as assessment of adverse events, will be presented at the 2026 MDS conference.

Conclusion: Participant interest in the trial and adherence to the study intervention were high, supporting the feasibility of this remote, decentralized design especially for this participant population. Forthcoming data will help better understand the efficacy and safety of light therapy as a supplement to alleviate unaddressed symptoms of PD.

References: 1. Huang HT, Huang TW, Hong CT. Bright Light Therapy for Parkinson Disease: A Literature Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Biology. 2021 Nov;10(11):1205.

We would like to acknowledge the LIGHT-PD Investigators who contributed to this study: Pinky Agarwal, Jason Aldred, Kristin Andruska, Alexander Baumgartner, Jill Farmer, Gail A. Kang, Raja Mehanna, Irene Richard, Ludy C. Shih, Michael Soileau, Meredith Spindler, Andrew Stalker, Matthew Swan, Kara Wyant, and Charles Zollinger.

« Back to 2026 International Congress

MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/decentralized-clinical-trial-of-a-phase-3-light-therapy-device-for-parkinsons-disease-feasibility-safety-and-efficacy/