Migraine HeadacheNCT07476053
Light Exposure, Migraine Outcomes, and Sleep Quality
A study testing Ambient Lighting Condition in people with Migraine Headache and Sleep, run by Arizona State University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between daily light exposure patterns, sleep quality, and migraine characteristics in adults with migraine, with and without photophobia, across an 8-week study period. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Migraine Headache, Sleep, Photophobia
- What is being tested?
- Ambient Lighting Condition
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 20 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 24 Mar 2026to Mar 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Meet the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (2018) criteria for migraine, with or without aura or photosensitivity
- Report experiencing more than 4 headache days per month and at least three migraine attacks per month
- No other major health issues based on self-reported data
- Able to read and communicate in English
- Work in a private office space for at least six hours per day, four days per week
Who cannot join
- Light therapy
- Use light-altering devices (e.g., blue-blocking contact lenses or glasses)
- Traveling out of town during the participation
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
ASU DeSmart Lab
Tempe, Arizona, 85281
Nina Sharp, PhD, 480-965-6536, nina.sharp@asu.edu
About this study
Official title: Daily Light Exposure Patterns and Their Associations With Migraine Outcomes and Sleep Quality
The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between daily light exposure patterns, sleep quality, and migraine characteristics in adults with migraine, with and without photophobia, across an 8-week study period.
Read the detailed description
Migraine is a prevalent neurological disorder that significantly reduces quality of life and daily functioning. Photophobia, or heightened sensitivity to light, is one of the most common and distressing symptoms experienced by individuals with migraine and is frequently reported as a trigger or exacerbating factor for migraine attacks. Additionally, sleep disturbances are commonly associated with migraine and may both contribute to and result from migraine episodes. Despite growing evidence linking light exposure, sleep quality, and migraine characteristics, the role of daily light exposure characteristics in triggering migraine attacks remains poorly understood.
Previous research has largely focused on controlled laboratory studies examining the effects of specific light spectra or intensities during migraine attacks. However, little is known about how individuals with migraine experience and interact with light throughout their daily lives, or how these real-world exposure patterns relate to sleep quality and migraine onset, frequency, and severity.
The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between daily light exposure patterns, sleep quality, and migraine characteristics in adults with migraine, with and without photophobia, across an 8-week study period. The first 4 weeks will serve as a baseline observational period in which participants' daily light exposure behaviors, sleep patterns, and migraine characteristics are monitored. The second four weeks will include the introduction of an interventional lighting condition, optimized for those in migraine based on our previous in-laboratory experiment, on the same outcomes (migraine characteristics and sleep).
Using wearable light exposure sensors, actigraphy devices, and daily self-reported measures, this study aims to capture real-world lighting behaviors and objectively assess sleep quality while evaluating whether the introduction of an optimized lighting condition is associated with changes in migraine symptoms and sleep outcomes.
The specific aims of this study are to:
- Characterize daily light exposure patterns, including intensity, spectrum, duration, and related behavioral patterns, in adults with migraine with and without photophobia.
- Examine associations between daily light exposure characteristics and migraine attack onset, frequency, and intensity.
- Evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of an optimized lighting condition on migraine frequency, migraine characteristics, and sleep quality.
- Conditions
- Migraine Headache, Sleep, Photophobia
- Being tested
- Ambient Lighting Condition
- Keywords
- Migraine, Sleep, Lighting, Photophobia
- Medical subject headings
- Migraine Disorders, Photophobia
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Ambient Lighting ConditionOther
Application of an optimized ambient lighting condition through placement of a dimmable LED floor lamp in participants' private workspaces to create a standardized workplace lighting environment during working hours. The floor lamp emits white light with a specified spectral distribution and intensity. Participants may adjust brightness for comfort. The lighting system is used solely to modify the ambient workplace lighting environment during the 4-week intervention period.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Optimized Lighting Intervention | Experimental | All participants will complete a 4-week baseline observation period followed by a 4-week intervention period. During the baseline period, daily light exposure, sleep, and migraine characteristics will be monitored under natural conditions. During the intervention period, participants will use an optimized workplace lighting condition during working hours while continuing wearable monitoring and daily electronic surveys. Outcomes during the intervention period will be compared to baseline measurements within participants. Receives: Other: Ambient Lighting Condition |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Monthly Migraine Days
Number of migraine days per 28-day period as recorded in daily electronic headache diaries. A migraine day is defined as a calendar day with a self-reported migraine meeting International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3) criteria. The primary analysis will compare the 4-week baseline period to the 4-week intervention period within participants.
Measured: Baseline (Weeks 1-4) compared to Intervention (Weeks 5-8)
Secondary outcomes (7)
Change in Migraine Headache Intensity
Average migraine pain intensity recorded in daily electronic headache diaries using a numerical rating scale (e.g., 0-10). Mean intensity during the 4-week baseline period will be compared to the 4-week intervention period within participants.
Measured: Baseline (Weeks 1-4) compared to Intervention (Weeks 5-8)
Change in Migraine-Specific Quality of Life (MSQ v2.1) Score
Change in total and domain scores on the Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire version 2.1 (MSQ v2.1). Higher scores indicate better quality of life. Scores at baseline will be compared to scores at Week 8.
Measured: Baseline (Week 0), Between Baseline and Intervention (end of Week 4), and End of Intervention (Week 8).
Change in Objective Sleep Efficiency
Sleep efficiency measured by wrist-worn actigraphy, defined as the percentage of time in bed spent asleep. Average sleep efficiency during the 4-week baseline period will be compared to the 4-week intervention period.
Measured: Baseline (Weeks 1-4) compared to Intervention (Weeks 5-8)
Change in Average Daily Ambient Light Intensity
Average daily ambient light intensity (lux) measured using a wearable light sensor. Daily mean illuminance (lux) will be calculated for each participant and averaged across the 4-week baseline period and the 4-week intervention period. The primary comparison is baseline versus intervention within participants.
Measured: Baseline (Weeks 1-4) compared to Intervention (Weeks 5-8)
Feasibility of Workplace Lighting Intervention
Feasibility assessed by adherence to lighting use, defined as average number of hours per workday the intervention lighting was used during the 4-week intervention period, based on participant self-report.
Measured: Intervention Period (Weeks 5-8)
Change in Objective Nighttime Sleep Duration
Average nightly total sleep time (minutes) measured by wrist-worn actigraphy. Nighttime sleep duration will be calculated for each night using actigraphy-defined sleep intervals (supplemented by the Consensus Sleep Diary to define time-in-bed). The primary comparison is the mean nightly sleep duration during the 4-week baseline period versus the 4-week intervention period within participants.
Measured: Baseline (Weeks 1-4) vs Intervention (Weeks 5-8)
Change in Average Daily Melanopic Equivalent Daylight Illuminance
Average daily melanopic equivalent daylight illuminance (melanopic EDI, lux) derived from full spectral power distribution measurements (350-780 nm) recorded by a wearable light sensor. Values will be averaged across the 4-week baseline and 4-week intervention periods and compared within participants.
Measured: Baseline (Weeks 1-4) vs Intervention (Weeks 5-8)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted17 Mar 2026
- Study start24 Mar 2026
- Primary completionMar 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionMar 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Migraine HeadacheStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Arizona State UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- This is a single-arm, repeated-measures interventional study. All participants will complete a 4-week baseline observation period during which daily light exposure, sleep patterns, and migraine characteristics are monitored under naturalistic conditions. This will be followed by a 4-week intervention period during which an optimized workplace lighting condition will be introduced. Participants will continue wearable monitoring and daily electronic surveys throughout both phases. Outcomes during the intervention period will be compared to each participant's baseline measurements.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Arizona State University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Flinn Foundation
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Nina Sharp, Arizona State University
- Investigators
- Nina Sharp, PhD, Principal investigator, Arizona State University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07476053
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- STUDY00023649
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 8 Mar 2026
- Last updated
- 28 Apr 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: Individual participant data (IPD) sharing has not yet been determined. De-identified data may be considered for sharing with qualified researchers following publication of primary study results, subject to institutional policies, data use agreements, and protection of participant confidentiality. Decisions regarding data sharing will take into account future research plans.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 28 Apr 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Daily Light Exposure Patterns and Their Associations With Migraine Outcomes and Sleep Quality
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07476053
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- STUDY00023649
- Conditions
- Migraine Headache, Sleep, Photophobia
- Keywords
- Migraine, Sleep, Lighting, Photophobia
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Arizona State UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Flinn Foundation
- Study start
- 24 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Mar 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Mar 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 17 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between daily light exposure patterns, sleep quality, and migraine characteristics in adults with migraine, with and without photophobia, across an 8-week study period.
Detailed description
Migraine is a prevalent neurological disorder that significantly reduces quality of life and daily functioning. Photophobia, or heightened sensitivity to light, is one of the most common and distressing symptoms experienced by individuals with migraine and is frequently reported as a trigger or exacerbating factor for migraine attacks. Additionally, sleep disturbances are commonly associated with migraine and may both contribute to and result from migraine episodes. Despite growing evidence linking light exposure, sleep quality, and migraine characteristics, the role of daily light exposure characteristics in triggering migraine attacks remains poorly understood.
Previous research has largely focused on controlled laboratory studies examining the effects of specific light spectra or intensities during migraine attacks. However, little is known about how individuals with migraine experience and interact with light throughout their daily lives, or how these real-world exposure patterns relate to sleep quality and migraine onset, frequency, and severity.
The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between daily light exposure patterns, sleep quality, and migraine characteristics in adults with migraine, with and without photophobia, across an 8-week study period. The first 4 weeks will serve as a baseline observational period in which participants' daily light exposure behaviors, sleep patterns, and migraine characteristics are monitored. The second four weeks will include the introduction of an interventional lighting condition, optimized for those in migraine based on our previous in-laboratory experiment, on the same outcomes (migraine characteristics and sleep).
Using wearable light exposure sensors, actigraphy devices, and daily self-reported measures, this study aims to capture real-world lighting behaviors and objectively assess sleep quality while evaluating whether the introduction of an optimized lighting condition is associated with changes in migraine symptoms and sleep outcomes.
The specific aims of this study are to:
- Characterize daily light exposure patterns, including intensity, spectrum, duration, and related behavioral patterns, in adults with migraine with and without photophobia.
- Examine associations between daily light exposure characteristics and migraine attack onset, frequency, and intensity.
- Evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of an optimized lighting condition on migraine frequency, migraine characteristics, and sleep quality.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- This is a single-arm, repeated-measures interventional study. All participants will complete a 4-week baseline observation period during which daily light exposure, sleep patterns, and migraine characteristics are monitored under naturalistic conditions. This will be followed by a 4-week intervention period during which an optimized workplace lighting condition will be introduced. Participants will continue wearable monitoring and daily electronic surveys throughout both phases. Outcomes during the intervention period will be compared to each participant's baseline measurements.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Optimized Lighting Intervention | Experimental | Other: Ambient Lighting ConditionAll participants will complete a 4-week baseline observation period followed by a 4-week intervention period. During the baseline period, daily light exposure, sleep, and migraine characteristics will be monitored under natural conditions. During the intervention period, participants will use an optimized workplace lighting condition during working hours while continuing wearable monitoring and daily electronic surveys. Outcomes during the intervention period will be compared to baseline measurements within participants. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Meet the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (2018) criteria for migraine, with or without aura or photosensitivity
- Report experiencing more than 4 headache days per month and at least three migraine attacks per month
- No other major health issues based on self-reported data
- Able to read and communicate in English
- Work in a private office space for at least six hours per day, four days per week
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Light therapy
- Use light-altering devices (e.g., blue-blocking contact lenses or glasses)
- Traveling out of town during the participation
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Ambient Lighting ConditionApplication of an optimized ambient lighting condition through placement of a dimmable LED floor lamp in participants' private workspaces to create a standardized workplace lighting environment during working hours. The floor lamp emits white light with a specified spectral distribution and intensity. Participants may adjust brightness for comfort. The lighting system is used solely to modify the ambient workplace lighting environment during the 4-week intervention period. | Other | Optimized Lighting Intervention |
Primary outcome
Change in Monthly Migraine Days
Time frame: Baseline (Weeks 1-4) compared to Intervention (Weeks 5-8)
Number of migraine days per 28-day period as recorded in daily electronic headache diaries. A migraine day is defined as a calendar day with a self-reported migraine meeting International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3) criteria. The primary analysis will compare the 4-week baseline period to the 4-week intervention period within participants.
7 secondary outcomes
Change in Migraine Headache Intensity
Time frame: Baseline (Weeks 1-4) compared to Intervention (Weeks 5-8)
Change in Migraine-Specific Quality of Life (MSQ v2.1) Score
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Between Baseline and Intervention (end of Week 4), and End of Intervention (Week 8).
Change in Objective Sleep Efficiency
Time frame: Baseline (Weeks 1-4) compared to Intervention (Weeks 5-8)
Change in Average Daily Ambient Light Intensity
Time frame: Baseline (Weeks 1-4) compared to Intervention (Weeks 5-8)
Feasibility of Workplace Lighting Intervention
Time frame: Intervention Period (Weeks 5-8)
Change in Objective Nighttime Sleep Duration
Time frame: Baseline (Weeks 1-4) vs Intervention (Weeks 5-8)
Change in Average Daily Melanopic Equivalent Daylight Illuminance
Time frame: Baseline (Weeks 1-4) vs Intervention (Weeks 5-8)
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 28 Apr 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. Individual participant data (IPD) sharing has not yet been determined. De-identified data may be considered for sharing with qualified researchers following publication of primary study results, subject to institutional policies, data use agreements, and protection of participant confidentiality. Decisions regarding data sharing will take into account future research plans.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Nina Sharp, PhD principal investigator
Arizona State University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Ambient Lighting Condition in people with Migraine Headache and Sleep, run by Arizona State University at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Nina Sharp, PhD (480-965-6536, nina.sharp@asu.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Monthly Migraine Days (time frame: Baseline (Weeks 1-4) compared to Intervention (Weeks 5-8)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 28 Apr 2026.