Dementia is a challenging condition that affects millions of people and their loved ones worldwide. While there is no definitive cure for dementia, there are still ways in which we can improve the quality of life for those living with it. One method is the use of circadian lighting.
Circadian lighting can be utilized as a powerful tool to alleviate dementia symptoms, ultimately enhancing the well-being and quality of life for individuals affected by this condition. Additionally, it can also ease the burden on caregivers by reducing episodes of anxiety, depression, and agitation among those with dementia. Before delving into the beneficial effects of light on individuals with dementia, let's first understand what dementia is.
What Is Dementia?
Dementia, simply put, occurs when brain cells stop functioning as they should, deteriorating faster than in healthy individuals. It is not a disease in itself, but rather a term for brain disorders that manifest through weakened cognitive functions. Typically, this presents as failing memory, diminished concentration, disorientation, language disturbances, and changes in personality and behaviour. Dementia is therefore an overarching umbrella covering a range of diseases, with Alzheimer's being perhaps the most well-known.
Currently, there is no definitive cure for dementia, but various methods exist to slow its progression and alleviate symptoms. One such method is circadian lighting, a crucial tool because individuals with dementia face particular challenges in their sleep-wake cycle.
Lack of Sleep Exacerbates Symptoms
Individuals affected by dementia often experience sleep disturbances. This is because many people with dementia have an unstable sleep-wake cycle, where they frequently wake up during the night and fall asleep during the day. Studies have even shown that many individuals with dementia rarely stay awake or sleep for several consecutive hours. As a result, they lack the regular rhythm that most adults typically have. These sleep disturbances not only disrupt the sleep-wake cycle of those with dementia but can also exacerbate other symptoms of the condition. But why do individuals with dementia have problems with their sleep-wake cycle?
A Control Centre Devoid of signals
Our circadian rhythm acts as our internal clock, regulating our sleep-wake cycle. Emerging from a "control centre" in our brain known as the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the circadian rhythm is primarily influenced by light. However, for individuals with dementia, especially those with Alzheimer's, there is often a breakdown or damage to the cells in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, leading to reduced cellular activity in that part of the brain. This disrupted connection to the control centre results in individuals with dementia rarely maintaining a stable circadian rhythm. This instability often results in cases where individuals with dementia sleep too much during the day and too little at night. Because of their fragmented sleep, they spend more time in the light sleep stage than in the deep REM sleep stage, which is essential for brain restoration and rejuvenation.
Circadian Lighting Reestablishes The Signal
For individuals with dementia, a controlled circadian lighting system strengthens their sleep and wake patterns. Like most people today, individuals with dementia spend the majority of their time indoors. However, unlike healthy individuals, the circadian rhythm (control centre) does not function optimally in those with dementia, making the lighting they are exposed to particularly significant.
Circadian lighting recreates the beneficial effects of natural outdoor light, automatically adjusting throughout the day. This means that it ensures the right light at the right time, with bright light during the daytime and a soft amber light in the evening – just as we experience the rhythm of the sun. With circadian lighting, it becomes possible to reestablish the lost connection to the control centre of individuals with dementia, making it clearer for them when it is day and night. This helps regulate the circadian rhythm of individuals with dementia and improves their sleep quality, reducing symptoms such as depression and agitation. Because circadian lighting contributes to reducing dementia symptoms, it can also help reduce the need for psychotropic drugs and other medications, benefiting individuals with dementia, their loved ones, and caregivers. A stable circadian rhythm is not just nice to have – it is crucial for the health of those with dementia and enhances their quality of life.
Does Blue-Free Night Light Have an Impact on Individuals With Dementia?
In the world of research, the beneficial effects of circadian lighting on individuals with dementia are also a current topic of interest. Dr. Line Iden Berge, a psychiatrist specializing in the field, is currently engaged in a significant research project titled; Virtual Darkness and Digital Phenotyping in Specialized and municipal dementia care: The DARK.DEM randomized controlled trial.
The project aims to address health disparities and encourage researchers to collaborate across disciplines to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of behavioural and psychiatric symptoms in individuals with dementia. While symptoms such as agitation and depression are common in those with dementia, they can be challenging to treat with medication and resource-intensive. The DARK.DEM project investigates various technological treatment methods that can help alleviate the symptoms of individuals with dementia. One of the aspects under scrutiny is the use of blue-free night light, which plays a crucial role in the characteristics of circadian lighting.
Through a randomized controlled clinical trial, researchers are exploring whether evening and nighttime treatment with virtual darkness (i.e., light without blue wavelengths) can alleviate symptoms of dementia. Previous studies have shown promising results with blue-free night light treatment in patients with bipolar disorder, where symptoms improved in just 3 days, leading to reduced medication needs and shorter hospital stays.
The DARK.DEM project is anticipated to continue until December 2027.