Ideas | Tracy Clark Flory Night Of Good Rest

Posts Tagged ideas

Nature Bright Sleep Aid Light

Thursday, October 21st, 2010

nature bright sleep aid light

Bright Light Therapy Aids Sleeping Disorders in Alzheimer’s Disease

Over the age of 65 it affects about 1 in 20. The risk of developing Alzheimer’s continues to increase with age, so those aged 80 have a higher risk of developing it than those aged 65. By the age of 85 nearly 1 in 2 will have the disease. Women have a slightly greater chance of developing Alzheimer’s than men. It is thought that about 500,000 people in the UK are believed to have the disease. There is no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease and very few effective treatments are available.

The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease can vary greatly, but those with the disease often have one or more of the following:
1. Problem with memory
2. Problems with speech and language
3. Confusion
4. Changes in mood and behaviour
5. Problem learning new information, ideas or skills
6. Difficulty performing simple everyday tasks

People afflicted with Alzheimer's often suffer disturbances in circadian (daily) rhythm, which affects body functions such as sleep cycles, temperature, alertness and hormone production. As a result, impaired sleep and nocturnal restlessness place great burdens on the sufferer and the care giver. Sedatives are usually prescribed; however these have limited usefulness and are typically accompanied by side effects.

It is thought that daily exposure of Alzheimer’s patients to bright light may resolve circadian rhythm sleep disorders. According to the Sleep Review, clinical research has shown that exposure to very bright light in the day and darkness at night can consolidate rest and activity patterns in patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. In a 12-week trial involving 27 women and 5 men aged 60-95 years, 15 subjects received 1 hour of exposure to bright natural light each morning and 17 control subjects were exposed only to normal low-light conditions. Results obtained from this trial indicated a trend toward increased sleep efficiency (percentage of time in bed spent asleep), decreased nighttime wakefulness, and decreased nighttime activity in the intervention group, compared with the controls.

Although further research needs to be done in this area, existing research have produced very promising results, which is a real light at the end of the tunnel for Alzheimer’s Disease sufferers, caregivers and family members caring for such patients.

Useful links
Alzheimer’s Society
http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/

NHS Direct - Alzheimer's disease
http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=14

Family Practice News Article - Light Therapy Aids Alzheimer's Sleep Disorders
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BJI/is_17_30/ai_66168796
Sleep Review - Light Therapy and Alzheimer’s disease
http://www.sleepreviewmag.com/issues/articles/2003-01_01.asp

Disclaimer

This article is only for informative purposes. It is not intended to be a medical advice and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for all your medical concerns. Kindly follow any information given in this article only after consulting your doctor or qualified medical professional. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from any information obtained from this article.

Find out more information: http://www.allergymatters.com/acatalog/Light_Therapy_and_Alzheimer_s_Disease.html

Visit us on facebook:

About the Author

Allergymatters was founded in 2001 and has successfully established itself as the #1 resource for allergies. Our aim is to promote good health to allergy sufferers through our knowledge and up-to-date information, advice and recommended products.

www.allergymatters.com

War Comes to America (full film)

BioBrite Sunrise Clock Advanced Model Charcoal

$139.99

The Charcoal SunRise Clock is derived from medical research on light and human behavior. In the early morning, the biological clock is sensitive to low intensity light. So, waking to a slowly increasing light can result in a smoother, more natural transition to wakefulness. It features an audible back-up alarm, the ability to set dawn and dusk cycles of 15, 30, 60, or 90 minutes, fade to nightligh...

BioBrite Sunrise Clock Advanced Model with White Noise, Pearl

$124.95

The Pearl SunRise Clock is derived from medical research on light and human behavior. In the early morning, the human biological clock is sensitive to low intensity light. So, waking to a slowly increasing light can result in a smoother, more natural transition to wakefulness. The SunRise Alarm Clock Pearl with White Noise has the ability to set different dawn and dusk cycles of 15, 30, 60 or 90 m...