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Alzheimer’s is often accompanied by sleep disorders and psychological symptoms, which lead to additional impairments in quality of life. However, these symptoms can be significantly alleviated with light therapy (photobiomodulation).
In a recent meta-analysis, researchers at Weifang Medical University (China) examined the effects of light therapy on sleep disorders and psychological behavioral symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease. The results are published in the specialist magazine “PLOS ONE”.
Diverse symptoms of Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative disease that causes a progressive decline in cognitive functions. Memory disorders are one of the most noticeable symptoms, but sleep disorders and psychological behavioral symptoms are also often present, the researchers explain.
Alzheimer’s disease is often accompanied by apathetic and depressive behavior, restlessness, excessive motor activity, verbal and/or physical aggression, which brings additional stress for both those affected and those around them.
According to the researchers, around 70 percent of Alzheimer’s patients are affected by sleep disorders in the early stages of the disease, although a connection with the suprachiasmatic nucleus (brain region that also influences the circadian rhythm) is suspected.
Light therapy for sleep disorders
Previous studies have already shown that photobiomodulation can alleviate sleep disorders in Alzheimer’s and improve the sleep quality of those affected, the team reports. This non-pharmacological therapy uses light energy to modulate biological functions.
The suprachiasmatic nucleus is stimulated with different light intensities and durations to regulate melatonin release and facilitate communication between the hypothalamus and cortex, which ultimately modulate the circadian rhythm.
Use for Alzheimer’s therapy?
Recently, the use of photobiomodulation has increasingly become the focus of research with regard to the treatment and regulation of neurodegenerative diseases, with individual studies already indicating an improvement in cognitive functions, the team reports.
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Although light therapy is receiving increasing attention as a potential means of treating Alzheimer’s, there has been no systematic assessment of its effectiveness and safety.
In the new meta-analysis, the researchers have now evaluated the effects of light therapy on Alzheimer’s disease based on fifteen randomized controlled studies with a total of 598 participants.
Promising treatment option
The data analysis showed that light therapy in people with Alzheimer’s significantly improved sleep, alleviated depression and reduced inner restlessness, among other things. In addition, according to the researchers, significant improvements in the circadian rhythm were observed through light therapy.
Overall, according to the study results, light therapy is a promising treatment option for alleviating various Alzheimer’s symptoms. However, given the small number of participants in the included studies, further research is required to clearly confirm the effect, the research team concluded. (fp)