Light therapy significantly improves sleep and mental health in Alzheimer’s patients, the authors of a study published in the journal say. PLOS One.
Cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer’s disease is often accompanied by sleep disturbances and mental disorders such as apathetic, depressed behavior and aggression. In a new study, researchers evaluated the effectiveness of visible light therapy aimed at stimulating the suprachiasmic nucleus, a region of the brain that plays a key role in controlling circadian rhythms.
Fifteen high-quality studies involving 598 patients with Alzheimer’s disease were analyzed. The included studies were published between 2005 and 2022 and were conducted in seven countries. They confirmed that light therapy significantly improved sleep quality, promoted normal circadian rhythm replacement, and reduced diurnal variability; This is a measurement of how often a person transitions from rest to activity throughout the day. The therapy also reduced the burden on caregivers. Symptoms of depression and agitation (motor restlessness accompanied by emotional arousal, anxiety, and fear) also softened.
The authors of the meta-analysis concluded that light therapy is a promising treatment option for some symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, but larger studies are needed.
Previous scientists to create A new feature of frontotemporal dementia.