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Light Therapy holds promise as a treatment for Alzheimer's Disease

A new article, conducted by Lili Zang and colleagues from Weifang Medical University School of Nursing in Shandong Province, China, discusses a meta-analysis of 15 high-quality trials that investigated the impact of light therapy on individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD).


The meta-analysis included 598 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease, and it covered 15 randomized controlled trials conducted in seven different countries. Those trials were published between 2005 and 2022.


Sleep Improvement


Light therapy led to significant improvements in several sleep measures. It notably enhanced sleep efficiency, increased interdaily stability, and reduced intradaily variability, all of which are indicators of better sleep quality.


Light therapy was associated with a reduction in agitation, depression, and caregiver burden among individuals with Alzheimer’s disease.


A significant advantage over usual care was shown in reducing the severity of psychobehavioral symptoms, as assessed by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory.


Not in Cognitive Function


While light therapy had positive effects on sleep and psychological well-being, it did not show a statistically significant effect on improving cognitive function, as measured by the Mini-Mental State Examination.


The study suggests that light therapy has low side effects, making it a promising treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.


However, the authors also highlight the importance of considering adverse behavioral outcomes in patients due to exposure to bright light.


The meta-analysis acknowledges some limitations, including inconsistencies in the types and degrees of dementia in the included studies, which may affect the outcome indicators.


In summary, the findings suggest that light therapy holds promise as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, particularly in improving sleep quality and alleviating psychological symptoms. The study emphasizes the need to weigh the benefits of light therapy against potential adverse effects and acknowledges certain limitations in the available research.

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References


Light Therapy a Beacon of Hope for Alzheimer's? 
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/light-therapy-beacon-hope-alzheimers-2023a1000vk4 

Zang L, Liu X, Li Y, et al. The effect of light therapy on sleep disorders and psychobehavioral symptoms in patients with Alzheimer’s disease: A meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2023;18(12):e0293977. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0293977

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