Positive effect of timed blue-enriched white light on sleep and cognition in patients with mild and moderate Alzheimer's disease

Sci Rep. 2021 May 13;11(1):10174. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-89521-9.

Abstract

Conflicting results have been reported regarding the effectiveness of light treatment (LT) in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). We investigated the effectiveness of blue-enriched white LT on sleep, cognition, mood and behavior in patients with mild and moderate AD. The treatment group (n = 14) sat about 60 cm away from a small (136 × 73 × 16 mm) LED light box for 1 h each morning for 2 weeks. The control group (n = 11) wore dark, blue-attenuating sunglasses during the 1 h exposures. The morning light started 9-10 h after each individual's dim light melatonin onset (DLMO). Assessments were done at baseline (T0), immediate post-treatment (T1), and 4 weeks after the end of the 2 weeks of LT (T2). Sleep was measured by actigraphy. Blue-enriched LT had a significantly better effect on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index at T2 compared to blue-attenuated LT, and a trend of better effectiveness on total sleep time at T2. There was a significant increase in Mini-Mental State Examination score at T2 after blue-enriched LT than that at T0. Our findings suggest that morning blue-enriched LT has a benefit in improving sleep and cognitive function in AD patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actigraphy
  • Affect / radiation effects
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alzheimer Disease / complications
  • Alzheimer Disease / therapy*
  • Behavior / radiation effects
  • Circadian Rhythm / radiation effects
  • Cognition / radiation effects*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Light*
  • Male
  • Melatonin / metabolism
  • Phototherapy / methods*
  • Saliva / metabolism
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sleep / radiation effects*
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / etiology
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / therapy
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Melatonin