LIGHT THERAPY FOR ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED BY JOHN SCHMID ON JULY 02, 2009
The product of reminiscence activity can benefit a family for generations to come. Reminiscence therapy is a proven way to reinforce the self-image of seniors whether they have dementia or not, one that improves quality of life. More than that, the result of reminiscing as a family can become an heirloom; a memory or even a recording of a conversation, for instance, that becomes a part of a families legacy.
Full Spectrum Lights for Better Sleep
Doctors too often prescribe medicine for sleep disorders. Drugs sometimes help, but there is a cost. But people with dementia are often over-medicated to begin with. Prescribing more medicine increases the likelihood of drug interactions, and sleep medicines often cause other problems. The Alzheimer’s Association makes this recommendation:
The risks of sleep-inducing medications for older people who are cognitively impaired are considerable. They include increased risk for falls and fractures, confusion, and a decline in the ability to care for oneself. If you find it necessary to use sleep medications, discontinue them after a regular sleep pattern has been re-established.
Light Therapy for Alzheimer’s—It’s about the rhythms…
Most people function on a wake-sleep cycle that corresponds to our 24 hour day. The mechanism that controls that cycle is known as circadian rhythms. Anyone can have that cycle interfered with, resulting in sleep disturbances that are usually very temporary. Jet-lag is a good example of an event that can cause such a disruption; one that many of us have experienced. Getting over jet-lag is usually just a matter of letting your brain adjust to the new time zone. The day-night cycle is mostly responsible for that adjustment, responsible for resetting your circadian rhythms.[pullquote]The risks of sleep-inducing medications for older people who are cognitively impaired are considerable. [/pullquote]
Sleep disorders are often associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Insomnia and the related daytime sleepiness are two symptoms that a person with Alzheimer’s often experiences. Sundowning is another. Sundowning is an increased agitation that occurs in the evening and is often accompanied by wandering. Sleep disorders of this type are not a minor problem. It imposes an added burden on a care-partners already difficult position, and wandering can be dangerous and even fatal. Unfortunately, the disruption in the circadian rhythms of a person who has Alzheimer’s disease is not as easy to fix as jet-lag. It doesn’t result from a vacation or business trip, but from brain damage caused by the disease.
Circadian Rhythms and the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus
The suprachiasmatic nucleus is responsible for regulating our circadian rhythms.
The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is the part of the brain that controls circadian rhythms. The SCN is located within the hypothalamus, in the base of the brain. (Read more about the brain>>) Researchers at the Netherlands Institute for Brain Research found a marked decrease in the total cell mass of the suprachiasmatic nucleus in older people (80 to 100 years), and an even more pronounced reduction in people with Alzheimer’s disease (mean age 78). This shrinkage could account for the sleep disorders that many people experience as they age (waking in the night or too early in the morning, daytime napping, etc.).
These and other disorders common in the elderly are more common and more pronounced in people with Alzheimer’s disease and many related forms of dementia.
There is a direct neural connection between the eye and the suprachiasmatic nucleus. The light-dark cycle controls our circadian rythms, and light can be used to reset those rhythms when they get out of kilter. The use of light therapy for Alzheimer’s disease can help lessen the sleep disorders that can be so much a part of that and other types of dementia.
Bright Light Therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease
One of the characteristics that a circadian rhythm must have to be considered genuine is that it can be reset by an external stimulus. Each day the light/dark cycle and other environmental stimuli help maintain the rhythm so that it stays synchronous with the 24-hour day. If, however, the suprachiasmatic nucleus is destroyed completely, the sleep/awake cycle will be totally disrupted.
We should expect, then, that partial damage to the suprachiasmatic nucleus will effect sleeping patterns, not completely but to some extent. This expectation is in agreement with the clinical findings: People with Alzheimer’s disease and with other types of dementia that result in shrinkage to that part of the brain suffer more sleep disorders than otherwise healthy people of the same age.
An increasing amount of evidence shows that bright, full spectrum light, on the magnitude of 5000 LUX to 10,000 LUX, can reset the circadian rhythm in people suffering from Alzheimer’s. Daily exposure to this type of light helps dementia patients with sleep disorders sleep longer and spend more time in deep sleep. As an added benefit, cognitive deterioration slowed with regular exposure to bright light, and symptoms of depression decreased.
Natural sunlight is the best light therapy for Alzheimer’s or anyone else whose sleep cycle may be off. However, sufficient exposure to sunlight is not always possible. This is especially true in cold, winter months, and for people with limited mobility, and limited access to the outdoors. A therapy light that meets the requirements (full-spectrum, 10,000 LUX, etc.) is a suitable substitute.
Related Research
Light Therapy for Alzheimer’s
Light Therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease; Mariana Gross Figueiro, MSc, Mark S. Rea, PhD; and Gregory Eggleston. Sleep Review – January-February 2003 Article
- Sensory stimulation in dementia: An effective option for managing behavioural problems; Alistair Burns, Jane Byrne, Clive Ballard,Clive Holmes. BMJ 2002;325(7376):1312 (7 December), doi:10.1136/bmj.325.7376.1312 Article
- Effect of Bright Light and Melatonin on Cognitive and Noncognitive Function in Elderly Residents of Group Care Facilities; Rixt F. Riemersma-van der Lek, MD; Dick F. Swaab, MD, PhD; Jos Twisk, PhD; et al Elly M. Hol, PhD; Witte J. G. Hoogendijk, MD, PhD; Eus J. W. Van Someren, PhD. JAMA. 2008;299(22):2642-2655. doi:10.1001/jama.299.22.2642 Article
Light therapy ‘can slow dementia’; BBC News, Tuesday, 10 June 2008 Article
Effect of Bright Light and Melatonin on Cognitive and Noncognitive Function in Elderly Residents of Group Care Facilities; Rixt F. Riemersma-van der Lek, MD; Dick F. Swaab, MD, PhD; Jos Twisk, PhD; Elly M. Hol, PhD; Witte J. G. Hoogendijk, MD, PhD; Eus J. W. Van Someren, PhD. JAMA Vol. 299 No. 22, June 11, 2008 Abstract
Effect of light therapy upon disturbed behaviors in Alzheimer patients; Yvette L. Rheaume, BSN, RN; Barbara C. Manning, MEd; David G. Harper, MS; Ladislav Volicer, MD, PhD. American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias®, Vol. 13, No. 6, 291-295 (1998) Abstract
Related Research for Light Therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease
Burns and Byrne, in a study reported in the British Medical Journal, found that dementia patients who sat in front of a bright (10 000 lux) light for two hours each morning slept an average of 40 minutes longer, and slept more deeply, than usual. A control group who sat in front of a one hundred lux light slept only about 8 minutes longer. This tendency was not evident during the summer, but the findings can be instructive for the long dark months of winter
A Dutch group reported in the June 11, 2008 issue of JAMA that bright light therapy “ameliorated symptoms of disturbed cognition, mood, behavior, functional abilities, and sleep.” The study was defined to investigate the combined effect of bright light therapy combined with melatonin. Based on the study the researchers conclude that:
…the simple measure of increasing the illumination level in group care facilities ameliorated symptoms of disturbed cognition, mood, behavior, functional abilities, and sleep. Melatonin improved sleep, but its long-term use by elderly individuals can only be recommended in combination with light to suppress adverse effects on mood. The long-term application of whole-day bright light did not have adverse effects, on the contrary, and could be considered for use in care facilities for elderly individuals with dementia.
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[…] Get some light every day. Light exposure is especially important in the winter when natural light levels are lower, and we spend more time indoors. A walk in the sun or sitting in front of a sunny window can help regulate our natural biorhythms. If it is difficult to get enough sun, artificial light sources are available to supplement natural light. Just be sure that the light source is a natural spectrum white light with an output of at least 6000 LUX, and 10,000 LUX is preferable. Read more about the importance of light and light therapy. […]
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The use of light for Alzheimer’s is ,and should be standard treatment for all patients.
Useful information. Alzheimer’s has effected my family and any info that can help is beneficial.
I appreciated it when you shared that light therapy has proven to be helpful in treating sleep disorders for Alzheimer’s patients. My friend just mentioned the other day that she is worried about her father who is dealing with Alzheimer’s since a few months ago and he is having sleeping disorders. I will suggest to her getting light therapy that can help with his issue.
It’s amazing to learn that light therapy helps with Alzheimer’s disease’s sleep effects. My family is worried about my grandmother’s health. We’re not sure, but we think she might have Alzheimer’s, and we want to help her. That’s why I’m researching other solutions to reduce its symptoms, and I think your article will help me with that. I appreciate you helping me learn about the health benefits of light therapy.
I am new to this sight, researching non-invasive, non medical ways to help my reduce my mother’s Sundowners.
Much of my career was spent working with dementia patients in a residential environment as the Activity Director. I recall one patient who was in perpetual motion. She was a tiny, very agile lady who could outrun everyone on the staff and had to be restrained in her chair in order to get her to eat her own meals rather than grabbing handfuls of of food off other resident’s plates at mealtime.
I was able to persuade the Administrator and Director of Nursing to hire a part time Assistant specifically assigned to her. the Assistant was provided with water, snacks, items to encourage interaction, a whistle in case help was needed and spent about 2 hours out in the secure garden with our resident every morning 5 days per week. This time in natural light over the course of about 3 months resulted in 1) Our resident being able to sit for periods of 5 to 15 minutes to eat or look at a picture book. 2) Much fewer episodes of taking food from other residents and 3) Many fewer episodes of disrobing through out the day. Sadly, after the 3rd month, the funds available to pay the part time Attendant were needed elsewhere and our Resident reverted to her previous behaviors. I will always wonder what might have been the result had we been able to continue the program and even expand it to other residents.
Is there any down side with light therapy such as development of visual problems or effects on visual problems?
My husband has dementia and macular degeneration.
Continued exposure to blue light through ones life is a risk factor in contributing to the onset or progression of macular degeneration. Since bright-light therapy uses full spectrum light I would caution against your husband using this therapy. There are ways to filter blue light from entering the eyes – screens, special glasses, etc., but I don’t know how effective that would be in your husbands case. My information comes from the American Macular Degeneration Organization (https://www.macular.org/ultra-violet-and-blue-light). I will contact that organization with your question and let you know if/when they respond. In the meantime, always consult your eye-care professional if your have concerns.
Thank you,
John
Testing comments
Has this been tested on patience with neurosarcoidosis?
Hi Gracie – I can find no research relating full-spectrum light therapy to neurosarcoidosis. This type of light therapy is generally used in cases of sleep disorders caused by disturbance to our circadian rhythms. Such sleep disturbances often accompany dementia, if the dementia affects the suprachiasmatic nucleus, the part of the brain that regulates those rhythms. If neurosarcoidosis cause sleep disorders resulting from disrupted circadian rhythms, bright light therapy might be worth a try.
Actually, the most effective light therapy MIGHT possibly be a strobing 40hz light. MIT announced astounding research results in early December about 40hz strobe lights: They cleared 50% of the beta amyloid in mouse models so we’re working on a device. You can find more information about the device we’re building to address this by googling “flickerthing light therapy”
Very bright white light with a modulation of 40Hz has been shown to be beneficial.
Checkout:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-38220670
I have early onset of Dementia and fighting it. I am really interested in light therepy….O drugs. I live in Canada…where can I buy the light
We do sell a therapy light (https://store.best-alzheimers-products.com/sun-touch-plus-10-000-lux.html), but shipping to Canada can be expensive. I did find a Canadian source at https://northernlighttechnologies.ca/, but the lights there are more expensive.
I work in a residential facility for people with dementia. In the summer time we do have a lot of natural light. In the winter the main source of light comes from fluorescent lighting. I am interested to know if this is sufficient and the right kind of lighting for people with Alzheimer’s. Also at night lights are kept on in patients rooms and I am wondering if this is a good idea or if we should possibly look at putting lamps in the Residents rooms.
Hi Cindy,
Good questions. Fluorescent lighting is not bright enough or of the right spectrum (color) to act as a replacement for natural light. To be of therapeutic value the light should be full spectrum white light and at least 5,000 to 10,000 LUX. Therapy light like this is only effective when the eyes are open and the light can directly affect the visual cortex. Light during sleeping hours will be ineffective. Not only that, but bright light can interfere with sleep.
Regards,
John
Well simple therapy but effective
Does it work for you