Recruiting

Light therapy to reduce daytime sleepiness in sleep apnea patients

Plain-English translation of NCT06698809 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated January 2026 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

This study doesn't follow the usual testing phases — it may be an observational study or a different type of research.

What is this trial?

This trial is testing transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM)—a treatment that uses red and near-infrared light to stimulate your brain—to help reduce excessive daytime sleepiness in people with obstructive sleep apnea. Even though CPAP machines are the standard treatment for sleep apnea, about half of patients still feel unusually tired during the day. The researchers want to see whether this light therapy treatment can help improve alertness and quality of life.

Many people with sleep apnea continue to feel exhausted even after getting proper CPAP treatment, which significantly affects their work, driving safety, and overall well-being. No one has studied whether this light therapy approach could help address this lingering tiredness, so this trial is exploring it for the first time in sleep apnea patients.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you have been diagnosed with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea
you have been using a CPAP machine for at least 3 months and use it at least 4 hours per night, 5 nights per week
you are experiencing daytime sleepiness (an Epworth Sleepiness Score of 8 or higher, or significant tiredness that affects your daily life)
you have normal thinking and memory skills
you do not have a diagnosis of chronic insomnia

You likely don't qualify if…

you have been diagnosed with chronic insomnia or sleep onset insomnia
you are currently using supplemental oxygen
you regularly take sedative, stimulant, or antipsychotic medications (more than twice per week), or regularly use alcohol or marijuana for sleep
you have had a car accident or near-miss in the past 12 months due to sleepiness, or you work as a commercial driver or in construction
you have a history of stroke, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, significant traumatic brain injury, or other serious brain conditions

What participation looks like

You will come to the research clinic for an initial visit lasting about an hour. During this visit, you will receive the light therapy treatment for approximately 12 minutes (using a device that delivers red and near-infrared light to your head), and then complete some brief assessments and questionnaires. You will also have the option to return for a follow-up visit about one week later, where you will receive the treatment again and complete additional assessments at a different time of day. The entire study commitment is relatively brief, with potential follow-up data collection over 2 years.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 11, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(1 site)

United States

NYU Langone Health, New York, New York