According to a study, simply increasing the levels of daytime lighting in group care facilities may improve cognition, mood, behavior, and sleep in patients with dementia.
Disruptions in circadian rhythm have been associated with the cognitive decline and the mood, sleep or behavioral disturbances often experienced by patients with dementia. And, circadian rhythms are primarily synchronized by both light and melatonin, a hormone. In this study, researchers in the Netherlands studied the effects of bright light and melatonin on 189 individuals with dementia residing in 12 different assisted care facilities. The facilities were randomly assigned to either whole-day bright light or dim light, and the participants were randomly assigned to receive an evening dose of either melatonin or a placebo pill. The participants were then observed for an average of 15 months. The researchers found that participants who were exposed to whole-day bright light demonstrated a modest benefit in terms of cognitive deterioration, depressive symptoms, and functional limitations. Although melatonin improved sleep, it also seemed to increase withdrawn behavior. So, the researchers recommended the use of melatonin only in combination with light.
Caring for a spouse or family member with dementia can be challenging, and disturbances of mood, sleep, and the ability to perform activities of daily living increase the likelihood that an individual with dementia will be placed in a facility. However, this study offers an easy way to improve cognition and daily functioning in older patients with dementia, decreasing caregiver burden and improving quality of life.
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