Effect of light treatment on sleep and circadian rhythms in demented nursing home patients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether fragmented sleep in nursing home patients would improve with increased exposure to bright light.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
Two San Diego-area nursing homes.


METHODS
Seventy-seven (58 women, 19 men) nursing home residents participated. Mean age +/- standard deviation was 85.7 +/- 7.3 (range 60-100) and mean Mini-Mental State Examination was 12.8 +/- 8.8 (range 0-30).


METHODS
Participants were assigned to one of four treatments: evening bright light, morning bright light, daytime sleep restriction, or evening dim red light.


METHODS
Improvement in nighttime sleep quality, daytime alertness, and circadian activity rhythm parameters.


RESULTS
There were no improvements in nighttime sleep or daytime alertness in any of the treatment groups. Morning bright light delayed the peak of the activity rhythm (acrophase) and increased the mean activity level (mesor). In addition, subjects in the morning bright light group had improved activity rhythmicity during the 10 days of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Increasing exposure to morning bright light delayed the acrophase of the activity rhythm and made the circadian rhythm more robust. These changes have the potential to be clinically beneficial because it may be easier to provide nursing care to patients whose circadian activity patterns are more socially acceptable.
Ancoli-Israel
Sonia
S
Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, USA. sancoliisrael@ucsd.edu
Martin
Jennifer L
JL
Kripke
Daniel F
DF
Marler
Matthew
M
Klauber
Melville R
MR
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010789:Phototherapy; D020178:Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*