Editor's Recommendation: Light therapy can significantly improve sleep and psychobehavioral symptoms in people with Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study published this week in the open-access journal PLoS Synthesis from Weifang Medical University.Light therapy can significantly improve sleep and psychobehavioral symptoms in people with Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study published this week in the open-access journal PLoS Synthesis from Weifang Medical University.
The cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer's disease is often accompanied by sleep disturbances and psychobehavioral symptoms, including apathetic and depressive behavior, agitation, and aggressive behavior. Photobiomodulation is a non-drug that uses light energy to stimulate the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), a sleep regulator in the brain. Although light** has received increasing attention as a potential intervention for Alzheimer's, a systematic evaluation of its efficacy and safety has not yet been obtained.
In the new study, the researchers searched multiple research databases to identify all randomized controlled trials associated with light** interventions for Alzheimer's disease or dementia. We selected 15 high-quality trials with available methods and relevant results for further analysis. The included trials were written in English, published between 2005 and 2022, and conducted in seven countries. They included a total of 598 patients.
A meta-analysis of all 15 trials found that light therapy significantly improved sleep efficiency, increased day-to-day stability (a measure of circadian rhythm strength), and reduced intra-day variability (a measure of how often a person transitions between daytime rest and activity). In people with Alzheimer's disease, light therapy can also reduce depression, reducing the patient's agitation and caregiver's burden.
Given the limited sample size of the studies included in this meta-analysis, the authors advocate for a larger future study that could also explore whether bright light exposure causes any undesirable behaviour in patients. They concluded that light therapy is a promising option for certain symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
"Light therapy can improve sleep and psychobehavioral symptoms in people with Alzheimer's disease to a relatively small amount, suggesting that it may be a promising** option for people with Alzheimer's disease," the study highlighted. ”
*：plos one
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