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Abstract

Grant Number:	2R42NS039271-02
PI Name:	BOULOS, ZIAD
PI Email:	zab1@columbia.edu
PI Title:	RESEARCH SCIENTIST
Project Title:	Light Visor for Treating Jet Lag: Controlled Field Trial

Abstract: DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Jet lag is a syndrome of behavioral, cognitive, and physical symptoms that result when travelers are exposed to a sudden shift of the day-night cycle. These symptoms impact on alertness and performance of airline and military personnel and the safety of the traveling public. They may also exacerbate medical and psychiatric illness, and frequent flyers may face increased risk of disease. The long-term objective of this project is to develop a practical and effective treatment for jet lag using the Bio-Brite Light Visor to phase-shift circadian rhythms. Phase 1 demonstrated that the visor was effective in phase-shifting human circadian rhythms and accelerating circadian reentrainment following a westward flight across 6 time zones, but the effect on reentrainment rate was not sufficient to improve sleep, performance, or subjective measures of jet lag. Phase 2 is designed to improve the efficacy of the light treatment by implementing changes to the visor itself and to the light treatment schedule. These changes will be tested first in laboratory experiments, and then in a field study with both eastward and westward flights across 6 time zones (New York-Zurich-New York). Bright light (3000 lux) or dim red light (control) treatment will be scheduled for 3 h on the three mornings immediately preceding the eastward flight, and on the three evenings immediately following the westward flight. Subjects will also be required to avoid exposure to bright light at specific times after the eastward flight. Circadian reentrainment rates will be examined, using salivary dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) as phase reference. Other jet lag indices will include sleep quality and duration, determined from wrist actigraphic recordings and from scores on a subjective sleep quality questionnaire, performance on a psychomotor vigilance task, and subjective assessments of mood, daytime sleepiness, and other jet lag symptoms. Phase 2 will also include a data analysis component aimed at generating light exposure and avoidance schedules keyed to individual chronotype and to travel origin and destination.

Thesaurus Terms:
biomedical equipment development, bioperiodicity, human therapy evaluation, phototherapy, travel
biological clock, circadian rhythm, light intensity, melatonin, psychomotor function, sleep deprivation
actigraphy, clinical research, human subject, questionnaire, statistics /biometry

Institution:	BIO-BRITE, INC.
	4340 EAST WEST HIWY, STE 401
	BETHESDA, MD 20814
Fiscal Year:	2003
Department:
Project Start:	30-SEP-2000
Project End:	31-JUL-2005
ICD:	NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE
IRG:	ZRG1

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