Effects of Combined Blue and Red Home-Based Light Therapy on Sleep in Adults With Self-Reported Sleep Difficulties

Part of paid clinical trials in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Sponsor
Colorado State University
Study ID
NCT07465250
Status
Completed

Conditions

  • Sleep

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • LED portable light therapy bulb — OTHER
    Unlike studies that use only bright white light or single-wavelength blue light, this intervention combines morning short-wavelength (blue) light with evening long-wavelength (red) light. This study specifically targets individuals with "subclinical" sleep complaints-those with a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score \>1-rather than patients already diagnosed with clinical insomnia or Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders. The protocol requires a precise 4-hour daily total exposure (2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the evening), which is more intensive than many standard 30-minute light box protocols. This is an at-home intervention where participants use portable lamp mounting options to integrate 4 hours of therapy into their regular daily activities, rather than receiving treatment in a controlled laboratory setting.

Study Details

The goal of this intervention is to learn if a combination of morning blue light and evening red light therapy can improve sleep quality in adults with subclinical sleep complaints (non-diagnosed difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep). The main questions it aims to answer are: Does combined morning blue light and evening red light therapy reduce sleep onset latency (the time it takes to fall asleep) and improve sleep efficiency? Does this light therapy intervention improve subjective alertness upon awakening? Researchers will compare each participant's objective and subjective sleep data during a 7-day baseline (habitual routine) with their data during a 7-day light therapy intervention to assess whether light therapy improves sleep and daytime alertness.

Key Dates

Start date
Jul 9, 2024
Status verified
Mar 2026
Primary completion
Jul 7, 2025
Completion
Jul 7, 2025

Study Design

Enrollment
20 participants (actual)
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT

Arms

  • Experimental: LED Light Therapy
    Participants in this single-arm study follow a within-subject consecutive design. All participants complete a 7-day baseline period (Control) following their habitual routine, followed immediately by a 7-day intervention period (Treatment). The intervention consists of: Morning Exposure: 2 hours of short-wavelength blue light exposure immediately upon waking. Evening Exposure: 2 hours of long-wavelength red light exposure during the 2 hours prior to the participant's anticipated bedtime. The primary goal of this arm is to assess the impact of this dual-light protocol on objective sleep onset latency and subjective morning alertness compared to the participant's own baseline data.

Primary Outcome Measure

Sleep Onset Latency [ Time Frame: Average of 7 days during the Control phase (Days 1-7) and average of 7 days during the Treatment phase (Days 8-14). ]

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIP
Colorado State UniversityFort CollinsColorado80523

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By research site
Colorado State University· Fort Collins, CO

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