Behavioral Responses to Bright Light Therapy in Elders
Conditions
Keywords
bright light therapy, circadian rhythm,, entrainment
Brief summary
The investigators hypothesize that significant exposure to artificial morning bright light (approximately 200 lux of primarily blue light at eye level for thirty minutes daily) as compared to sham bright red light (placebo) will: 1. improve sleep quality 2. improve cognitive scores 3. improve depression scores 4. improve quality of life scores.
Detailed description
Bright light therapy has been shown to improve depression and insomnia in multiple studies. These are common conditions among elders, particularly those residing in long term care environments. Bright light therapy has been inadequately studied in the geriatric population. We will show that a groups of twenty elders can simultaneous be exposed to bright light and that it will result in improvements in multiple realms of behavior and quality of life. Elders will be tested with a number of neuropsychological test batteries prior to exposure to bright light and again at the end of a four week exposure. Some subjects will have daytime and night time activity levels monitored with actigraphy. Cortisol and melatonin levels will be obtained prior to and at the end of the exposure period.
Interventions
Elders will be engaged in an activity period which will focus their attention in the direction of bright light, thus ensuring viewing the light source for a daily exposure of thirty minutes.
OTHERlow luminosity red light
Low level red light should not entrain circadian rhythm and will serve as a placebo control
Sponsors
Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
65 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* residents in Masonic Villages, Elizabethtown, PA long term care * ability to give informed consent and complete the neuropsychological tests
Exclusion criteria
* blindness * severe illness expected to preclude the ability to complete treatment * moderate to severe dementia that precludes the ability to complete testing * light sensitivity making treatment to light therapy uncomfortable
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| day and nightime activity level (5 subjects per group only) using Actigraphy | two weeks prior to light exposure and the second two weeks during light exposure (continuous measurements) |
| assessment of mood using the Profile of Moods Survey | weekly throughout the duration of the study |
| assessment of sleep quality using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale | weekly throughout the duration of the study |
| assessment of cognitive functioning using MicroCog | once prior to intervention, once near the end of intervention, once four weeks after intervention |
| Assessment of mood using the Geriatric Depression Scale | once prior to intervention, once near the end of intervention, once four weeks after intervention |
| assessment of quality of life using the SF-36 | once prior to intervention, once near the end of intervention, once four weeks after intervention |
| assessment of sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index | once prior to intervention, once near the end of intervention, once four weeks after intervention |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| salivary cortisol levels | once prior and near the end of light exposure period |
| salivary melatonin levels | once prior and near the end of light exposure period |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed