title: Light therapy for improving cognition, activities of daily living, sleep, challenging behaviour, and psychiatric disturbances in dementia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rest-activity and sleep-wake cycles are controlled by the endogenous circadian rhythm generated by the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the hypothalamus. Degenerative changes in the SCN appear to be a biological basis for circadian disturbances in people with dementia, and might be reversed by stimulation of the SCN by light.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The review examines the effectiveness of light therapy in improving cognition, activities of daily living (ADLs), sleep, challenging behaviour, and psychiatric symptoms associated with dementia.
  
  
  METHODS
  ALOIS, the Specialized Register of the Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group (CDCIG), The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL and LILACS were searched on 20 January 2014 using the terms: "bright light*", "light box*", "light visor*", "dawn-dusk*", phototherapy, "photo therapy", "light therapy" "light treatment", light* . The CDCIG Specialized Register contains records from all major healthcare databases (The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, LILACS) as well as from many trials databases and grey literature sources.
  
  
  METHODS
  All relevant, randomized controlled trials were included in which light therapy, at any intensity and duration, was compared with a control group for the effect of improving cognition, ADLs, sleep, challenging behaviour, and psychiatric symptoms associated with dementia (as well as institutionalization rates or cost of care). Included were people with dementia of any type and degree of severity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two review authors independently assessed the retrieved articles for relevance, and four review authors independently assessed the selected studies for risk of bias and extracted the data. Statistically significant differences in outcomes between the treatment and control groups at the end of treatment and follow-up were examined. Each study was summarized using a measure of effect (for example mean difference).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven trials (13 articles) met the inclusion criteria. However, three of the studies could not be included in the analyses either because the reported data could not be used in the meta-analysis or we were unable to retrieve the required data from the authors.This updated review found no effect of light therapy on cognitive function, sleep, challenging behaviour (for example agitation), or psychiatric symptoms associated with dementia. Reduction in the development of ADL limitations was reported in one study, at three of five time points, and light therapy was found to have an effect after six weeks and two years but not after one year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is insufficient evidence to justify the use of bright light therapy in dementia. Further research should concentrate on replicating the suggested effect on ADLs, and establishing the biological mechanism for how light therapy improves these important outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, level 3, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G1C9.
authors.forename: Dorothy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Forbes
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Blake
authors.forename: Emily J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Thiessen
authors.forename: Shelley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peacock
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hawranik
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications*; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010789:Phototherapy; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*