Light Therapy & Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia. According to the Alzheimer's Association, more than 14 million individuals will develop the disease within the century. Alzheimer's gravely affects the function of the brain, and causes those that suffer from the disease to experience a loss of memory, as well as episodes of depression, confusion and even insomnia. There are many types of medical and non-medical treatments that are often sought. One form of therapy used with Alzheimer's patients is light therapy.

Causes

• One major component of Alzheimer's disease is its effect on the patient's sleeping pattern. The changes in the function of the brain contribute to disruption of the sleep cycle. This can be referred to as "chronic sleep deprivation."

Light Therapy

• Light therapy is a method of treating ailments such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, etc. with exposure to light. Light therapy uses artificial light on a patient to mimic the effect that natural light often has. In a therapy session, an Alzheimer's patient would be exposed to what is referred to as a light therapy box. The light therapy box exposes the patient to bright, artificial light. The exposure to the light causes the body to react by naturally hindering the release of melatonin. This becomes affected because it allows the brain to control certain symptoms associated with Alzheimer's, including sleeping patterns.

Success Rate

• Light therapy for Alzheimer's patience is an ongoing trend in the medical profession. The World Alzheimer's Congress conducted a study to determine how effective light therapy would be. The results showed that a drop in nighttime activity and insomnia was linked to the light therapy. It also helps in the reduction of agitation and delusions in Alzheimer's patients.