This project is centered around the creation of devices aimed at being used in the study of the effects of Alzheimer's Light Therapy on humans. In December 2016, after publishing my first Instructable, Mr. Sotiris Melissis (graduate student at NYU) contacted me regarding a newly published article on a new Alzheimer's treatment method by MIT (http://news.mit.edu/2016/visual-stimulation-treatment-alzheimer-1207), he suggested that I build a device to aid in the testing of this therapy on humans. We agreed on creating glasses that could administer the (40Hz) light therapy via a small LED in the corner of the lense, and having the glasses be wirelessly controlled by a remote with an OLED display.

The process of building the controller was the first step of creating these devices and due to the idea that they were to be wireless, I decided to work with the ESP8266 MCUs as they allow for the creation of wireless networks with their wireless AP and Client modes. The MCUs are also fairly small and have low power consumption, an attractive feature when making wearables and remote controls. One of the major design decisions of this project was the placement of the LED on the glasses as one of the focuses of the project was to give the user the ability to carry out daily tasks as they receive the treatment; this objective lead to the LED being placed in the corner of the transparent glasses, this was done in order to allow the user to maintain visibility throughout the treatment. The idea to make the glasses wireless was also conjured while the thought of maintaining the user’s freedom of movement through the therapy was in mind.

To occupy the glasses and control them, a remote with an OLED was created and an ESP-12 was is programmed in client mode to control the ESP that is connected to the LED on the glasses which is in access point mode. An menu interface is programmed into the ESP acting as a remote, to allow the user to change the state and brightness of the LED.

After establishing a remote connection between the remote and the glasses, the next step was to create a standalone light bright enough to replace a room lamp that could still administer the therapy. Just like the glasses, the idea was to have the light be wirelessly controlled by the existing remote. For this, I incorporated another ESP-12 acting in station mode, the remote could sends a signal to turn on the light, the ESP on the glasses receives the signal, switches to client mode and connects to the ESP on the light to tell it to turn on. The goal to create a light that could replace a lamp, meant there was a need for high powered LEDs, this also meant that the lights couldn’t be powered directly from the ESP’s IOs as the high powered LEDs require more current than the ESP can source. A power adapter was used to provide the required current for the LEDs, and a transistor was embedded into the circuitry to allow the ESP to control the LEDs that make up the light.

With the circuitry and connection logistics between the remote, glasses, and light worked out, the menu on the remote was updated to accommodate the changes and allow for a sleep mode on the remote. The sleep mode was only incorporated on the remote as it is the only MCU that remains in client mode and thus it does not need to constantly check for received data from the other devices. As for the glasses, a small capacity battery was chosen to power the ESP due to the design restrictions calling for a small device in order to fit on the user’s glasses.

Although the remote is the usual method of controlling the glasses and the lights, they can also be controlled via a computer or phone by manually connecting to their networks and sending a list of commands to specific addresses (I will release the commands involved in this form of control to anyone who is interested in testing them out, just email me at addyirankunda@gmail.com). The instructions on how to build, and use the remote, glasses, and lights are below (the code is also provided).

EXPANDED TECHNICAL DETAILS

Photobiomodulation Healthcare Hub

This medical-assistive project uses controlled light therapy (40Hz flickering light) to potentially help reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer's and improve cognitive function.

• 40Hz Spectral Synthesis: The Arduino manages high-intensity white LEDs embedded in glasses or room fixtures. The firmware maintains a precise 40Hz flicker frequency, which research suggests can stimulate gamma brain waves and clear beta-amyloid plaques.
• NRF24L01 Wireless Mesh: Synchronizes multiple light sources across a room. A "Master" controller sends a wireless heartbeat signal to all fixtures, ensuring every light source in the user's environment is flickering in perfect phase.

Safety

• Soft-Start Transition: Includes a 5-minute "Ramp-Up" period where the flicker intensity and brightness slowly increase, preventing visual shock and improving user comfort during therapy sessions.