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Light therapy may benefit adults with cognitive impairment

Light therapy can improve behavioral disturbances, sleep quality and symptoms of depression in adults with mild cognitive impairment and dementia, according to recent findings published in Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.     

“No known meta-analyses have extensively investigated light therapy for people with varying degrees of cognitive impairment such as [mild cognitive impairment] and dementia,” Huei-Ling Chiu, MS, RN, from the School of Nursing, College of Nursing at Taipei Medical University, and colleagues wrote. “Most meta-analyses of light therapy have analyzed individuals with sleep disorders or depression and other mental illnesses as their target groups. Only one study focused on individuals with dementia.”

Researchers analyzed randomized clinical trials on cognitive impaired persons, including mild cognitive impairment, memory impairment and dementia, to determine the effectiveness of light therapy on behavioral disturbances, sleep quality and depression. They also performed a subgroup analysis to study the differences in effect size based on light intensity, frequency of therapy, participant characteristics and study quality.

After searching various clinical databases for trials and systematic reviews, Chiu and colleagues found nine randomized controlled trials that met study criteria. Assessment of the trials indicated that light therapy had a moderate effect on behavioral disturbances (g = –0.61) and depression (g = –0.58), and a small effect on sleep quality (g = 0.25). The subgroup analysis results showed that a light intensity of 2,500 lux or more was more effective for cognitively impaired persons and had a greater effect on depression compared to a lesser light intensity (P = .03). In terms of behavioral disturbances, the low risk of bias in blinding was greater than the randomized controlled trials considered high or unclear risk of bias in blinding (P = .02).

“Future research should focus on the relationship between light therapy and dementia, but also on expanding study scope to incorporate individuals with varying degrees of cognitive impairment, including [mild cognitive impairment],” Chiu and colleagues wrote. “By providing practical information on nonpharmacological light therapy and promoting its application, this study is expected to be of value to individuals with cognitive impairment.” – by Savannah Demko

Disclosures: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.