title: Effect of light treatment on sleep and circadian rhythms in demented nursing home patients.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, USA. sancoliisrael@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ancoli-Israel
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Daniel F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Kripke
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marler
authors.forename: Melville R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Klauber
mesh_terms: 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*