The effect of light therapy on sleep disorders and psychobehavioral symptoms in patients with Alzheimer's disease: A meta-analysis.
Study Goal
To evaluate the efficacy of light therapy in improving sleep disorders and psychobehavioural symptoms in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Results Summary
Light therapy significantly improved sleep efficiency, interdaily stability, and reduced intradaily variability. It also alleviated depression, reduced agitation, and decreased caregiver burden in AD patients.
Population
Patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD)
Effective Dosage
Not Assessed
Duration
Not Assessed
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
light therapy | increase | sleep efficiency | patients with AD | MD = -2.42, 95% CI = -3.37 to -1.48, p < 0.00001 | significantly improved | #1 |
light therapy | increase | interdaily stability | patients with AD | MD = -0.04, 95% CI = -0.05 to -0.03, p < 0.00001 | increased | #2 |
light therapy | decrease | intradaily variability | patients with AD | MD = -0.07, 95% CI = -0.10 to -0.05, p < 0.00001 | reduced | #3 |
light therapy | decrease | depression | patients with AD | MD = -2.55, 95% CI = -2.98 to -2.12, p < 0.00001 | alleviate | #4 |
light therapy | decrease | agitation | patients with AD | MD = -3.97, 95% CI = -5.09 to -2.84, p < 0.00001 | reduce | #5 |
light therapy | decrease | caregiver burden | patients with AD | MD = -3.57, 95% CI = -5.28 to -1.87, p < 0.00001 | reduce | #6 |
light therapy | increase | sleep and psychobehavioral symptoms | patients with AD | - | leads to significant improvement | #7 |
light therapy | decrease | side effects | patients with AD | - | is associated with relatively fewer side effects | #8 |
BACKGROUND: Although Alzheimer's disease (AD) mainly affects cognitive function, it is often accompanied by sleep disorders and psychobehavioral symptoms. These symptoms, including depression, agitation, and psychotic symptoms, are prominent hospitalization causes among patients with AD. Currently, relatively more research exists on light therapy for sleep disorders, while those on psychobehavioral symptoms are gradually increasing. However, no consensus exists on these results because of the vulnerability of light therapy to multiple factors, including light intensity and duration. Thus, further research investigating this aspect is warranted. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of light therapy in improving sleep disorders and psychobehavioural symptoms in patients with AD. METHODS: In this meta-analysis, relevant literature was searched in Embase, the Clinical Trials Registry, Web of Science, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library up to December 2022. Furthermore, a fixed-effects model was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Fifteen randomized controlled trials involving 598 patients with AD were included. In the case of sleep disorders, our meta-analysis revealed that light therapy significantly improved sleep efficiency (MD = -2.42, 95% CI = -3.37 to -1.48, p < 0.00001), increased interdaily stability (MD = -0.04, 95% CI = -0.05 to -0.03, p < 0.00001), and reduced intradaily variability (MD = -0.07, 95% CI = -0.10 to -0.05, p < 0.00001). With respect to psychotic behavior, light therapy was found to alleviate depression (MD = -2.55, 95% CI = -2.98 to -2.12, p < 0.00001) as well as reduce agitation (MD = -3.97, 95% CI = -5.09 to -2.84, p < 0.00001) and caregiver burden (MD = -3.57, 95% CI = -5.28 to -1.87, p < 0.00001). CONCLUSION: Light therapy leads to significant improvement in sleep and psychobehavioral symptoms and is associated with relatively fewer side effects in patients with AD, indicating its potential as a promising treatment option for AD.