Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42058736›Full record

ArticleClinical interventions in aging2026

Application of Photostimulation Therapy in Cognitive Function of Alzheimer's Disease Patients: A Scoping Review.

Bixuan Xu, Hejia Wan, Ping Liu, Zilin Zhao, Yulu Xie, Jiaru Meng, Yuanmei Qin

Abstract readScoping Review
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical interventions in aging, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Bixuan XuSchool of Nursing (Nursing School of Smart Healthcare Industry), Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China.ORCID 0009-0008-1396-4219
Hejia WanSchool of Nursing (Nursing School of Smart Healthcare Industry), Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China.ORCID 0009-0003-3900-1967
Ping LiuThe First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China.
Zilin ZhaoSchool of Nursing (Nursing School of Smart Healthcare Industry), Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China.ORCID 0009-0003-6167-4842
Yulu XieSchool of Nursing (Nursing School of Smart Healthcare Industry), Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China.
Jiaru MengSchool of Nursing (Nursing School of Smart Healthcare Industry), Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China.
Yuanmei QinSchool of Nursing (Nursing School of Smart Healthcare Industry), Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Alzheimer's disease patients often experience cognitive decline during disease progression, impacting their quality of life. Photostimulation therapy, as a non-invasive neuromodulation method, has been increasingly used in the adjunctive management of Alzheimer's patients in recent years. Despite the increasing number of related studies, a systematic review and comprehensive evaluation are still lacking. Objective: This review systematically summarizes the current application of photostimulation therapy in Alzheimer's disease patients, outlines its implementation characteristics, outcome indicators, intervention effects and mechanisms of action in cognitive function intervention, and identifies evidence gaps in current research. Methods: Relevant studies were systematically retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, CINAHL, CNKI, CBM, WanFang Database, and VIP Database from their inception to January 5, 2026. Data from the included literature were extracted and analyzed. Results: A total of 21 studies were included. Photostimulation therapy primarily includes light stimulation, 40 Hz rhythm-related light stimulation, photobiological modulation and their combined therapies, as well as transcatheter intracranial laser therapy. This therapy has potential value in improving cognitive function or delaying cognitive decline and may affect sleep/rhythm and behavioral symptoms. Its potential mechanisms involve neural oscillation modulation, circadian rhythm reconstruction, and improvement of synaptic plasticity. However, existing evidence exhibits significant heterogeneity in study design, sample size, intervention parameters, and outcome indicators. Conclusion: Photostimulation therapy has shown promising potential in cognitive function intervention for Alzheimer's disease patients, but current evidence is still largely in the exploratory stage. Future research should focus on multi-center, large-sample, and standardized studies to determine the optimal parameter combinations for different stages and scenarios, and to optimize individualized intervention protocols to improve clinical efficacy.

Indexed as

Alzheimer DiseaseCognitionCognitive DysfunctionPhototherapyCognitive EnhancementHumansQuality of Lifealzheimer’s diseasecognitive functionmechanism of actionphotostimulation therapyscoping review

Identifiers

PMID42058736
PMCPMC13123567

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.