Abstract
Light therapy potentially improves dementia symptoms. In this study, we examined the effects of bright light therapy on neuropsychiatric behaviors and cognitive function. Thirty-five participants were assigned to either the experimental or comparison group. The experimental group was exposed to bright light at 2,500 lux, and the comparison group was exposed to 114–307 lux. The instruments used were the Neuropsychiatric Inventory and the Mini-Mental State Examination. The experimental group showed a significant improvement in Neuropsychiatric Inventory scores; these scores, which were calculated using generalized estimating equations with medication (benzodiazepines) as a covariate, were reduced by 65% (P < 0.001) and 78% (P = 0.001) by the 5th and 9th weeks, respectively. At the same time, Mini-Mental State Examination scores increased by 19% (P = 0.007) and 28% (P = 0.04), respectively. However, differences in outcomes between the 5th and 9th weeks were not significant. A 4-week regimen of bright light therapy was the most effective, with higher adherence and acceptability.
Highlights
55 million people have dementia worldwide, and this number is expected to increase to 78 million by 2030 and 139 million by 2050 (World Health Organization, 2021)
No statistically significant differences were observed in the demographic characteristics between the experimental and comparison groups
The Mann–Whitney U test was used to assess the baseline age, Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores, and medication, and the results showed no significant differences in age, medication, and MMSE scores
Summary
55 million people have dementia worldwide, and this number is expected to increase to 78 million by 2030 and 139 million by 2050 (World Health Organization, 2021). BPSD are the predominant factors that increase the burden of caregivers of older adults with dementia (Melo et al, 2011). BPSD may be improved with pharmacological treatment; these therapeutics may expose patients to various adverse side effects, including sedation, dysphagia, falls, delirium, and worsening cognitive symptoms (de Oliveira et al, 2015). Non-pharmacological alternatives for BPSD management include light therapy, cognitive rehabilitation, and Snoezelen multisensory stimulation therapy, but studies of these treatments have reached inconsistent conclusions (de Oliveira et al, 2015; Duan et al, 2018; Law and Kwok, 2019)
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