How light therapy can help dementia patients by boosting sleep, easing depression and reducing aggressive behaviour
- The study suggests that exposure to bright light may help by resetting the body clocks
Light therapy can promote sleep, relieve depression and reduce aggressive behavior in dementia patients, scientists say.
Their research suggests that exposure to bright light can help by resetting the body clocks. The researchers analyzed the results of fifteen separate studies – two of which were from Great Britain – among 600 Alzheimer's patients.
The study found that light therapy, which is used to treat seasonal affective disorder, provided better sleep quality, with less time spent in bed.
This was when the treatment was compared to low light and standard medical care.
Light therapy can promote sleep, relieve depression and reduce aggressive behavior in dementia patients, scientists say (Stock Image)
Their research suggests that exposure to bright light can help by resetting the body clocks
Alzheimer's patients may need more exposure because nerve damage makes them less sensitive to light and they may spend less time outdoors.
The review also found that dementia patients who received light therapy had less severe depressive symptoms and were less aggressive.
Sleep disorders affect 70 percent of people in the early stages of the disease.
The research – from Weifang Medical University in China – was published in PLOS One.
The Alzheimer's Society warned yesterday that dementia will cost the UK economy £1 billion every week by 2025.