 | | | | Related Healthscout Videos | |
|
(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Our bodies tick to the rhythm of light and darkness. A new study shows the importance of light when the darkness of dementia creeps in.
Disturbances in mood, behavior, sleep and daily activities are linked to what scientists call the circadian rhythm which is the regular recurrence of biological processes or activities in 24 hour cycles. Light and melatonin reduction in elderly dementia patients can affect the synchronizing of that rhythm.
Text Continues Below
Rixt F. Riemersma-van der Lek, M.D., of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences in Amsterdam led the research team. Twelve elderly care facilities participated. Six had daylight bright lighting installed to supplement natural light. The bright lighting was on from nine a.m. to six p.m. Some patients were also given melatonin to reduce sleep disturbances.
The team found that the addition of bright light reduced cognitive deterioration by five percent. Depressive symptoms went down 19 percent and the gradual increase of functional limitations went down 53 percent.
Although melatonin reduced the time it took patients to fall asleep and increased the hours of sleep, it also increased aggressive behavior. But when melatonin was combined with bright light, aggression went down nine percent.
The simple measure in increasing the illumination level in group care facilities improved symptoms of disturbed cognition, mood, behavior, functional abilities and sleep, the authors wrote. They went on to say that though melatonin improved sleep, it should not be used for dementia patients without the addition of long-term whole-day bright light.
Sign up for a free weekly e-mail on Medical Breakthroughs called First to Know by clicking here.
SOURCE: JAMA, June 11, 2008
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
|
.gif)
