Can light therapy be beneficial for Alzheimer's patients?

1 answer | Last updated: Aug 24, 2010
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Ladislav Volicer, M.D., Ph.D., is recognized as an international expert on advanced dementia care. He is a courtesy full professor at the School of...

There is good evidence that the circadian rhythm is disturbed in Alzheimer's disease. While in normal aging the period get shorter and, therefore, elders go to sleep earlier and wake up earlier, in Alzheimer's disease the circadian period gets longer. That may be why some Alzheimer patients suffer from sundowning - behavioral disturbances in the afternoon and evening. Bright light in the morning may delay the circadian phase and may help some patients. However, there is no complete agreement about that. There is one study from the Netherlands that indicated that providing more light during the day also decreases behavioral symptoms of dementia.

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