title: Bright light therapy in Parkinson's disease: an overview of the background and evidence.
abstract: Sleep disorders are common in Parkinson's disease (PD) and seem to be strongly associated with depression. It has been suggested that sleep disorders as well as depression are caused by a disturbed circadian rhythm. Indeed, PD patients are prone to misalignment of their circadian rhythm due to various factors, and many patients with PD display a phase advance of their circadian rhythm. Current treatment options for sleep disorders and depression in patients with PD are limited and can have serious side effects; alternative treatments are therefore badly needed. Bright light therapy (BLT) restores circadian rhythmicity effectively in mood- and sleep-disturbed patients without PD. The few studies that focused on the efficacy of BLT in patients with PD demonstrated a positive effect of BLT not only on sleep and mood but also on motor function. More research on the neurobiology and efficacy of BLT in PD is warranted.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands ; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, VU University Medical Center, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Sonja
authors: S
authors: Rutten
authors: Chris
authors: C
authors: Vriend
authors: Odile A
authors: OA
authors: van den Heuvel
authors: Jan H
authors: JH
authors: Smit
authors: Henk W
authors: HW
authors: Berendse
authors: Ysbrand D
authors: YD
authors: van der Werf