Journal of Nippon Medical School: Vol.66 No.4 page.229

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ArticleTitle Effects of bright light on cognitive disturbances in Alzheimer-type dementia

AuthorList Takao Ito, Hiroshi Yamadera, Ritsuko Ito and Shunkichi Endo

Affiliation Department of Neuropsychiatry, Nippon Medical School

Language JA

Volume 66

Issue 4

Year 1999

Page 229-238

Received February 15, 1999

Accepted April 7, 1999

Keywords Alzheimer-type dementia, bright light therapy, cognitive function, circadian rhythm, actigraph

Abstr act We investigated the effectiveness of bright light therapy on cognitive disturbances and its effect on circadian (sleep-wake) rhythm in Alzheimer-type dementia (ATD). Twenty-seven patients with ATD were treated with bright light therapy in the morning for 4 consecutive weeks. We evaluated the cognitive functions and circadian rhythms of the patients as a whale, and as menbers of two groups (one: questionable and mild dementia; the other: moderate and severe dementia; both groups classified by the severity criteria of Clinical Dementia Rating). We assessed circadian rhythms by actigraphy and cognitive states by Mini-Mental-State Examination (MMSE) and Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS) before and after light therapy. Bright light therapy improved circadian rhythm. Although bright light therapy had no Significant effect on the Severity of dementia, it improved the MMSE scores, cognitive functions of ADAS scores (memory > language) and non-cognitive functions of ADAS scores (behavior ≒ mood), especially in the questionable and mild dementia group. These results suggest that bright light therapy improves cognitive functions with the modification of circadian rhythm, especially in the early stages of ATD.

Correspondence to Takao Ito, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8603, Japan

ArticleTitle	Effects of bright light on cognitive disturbances in Alzheimer-type dementia
AuthorList	Takao Ito, Hiroshi Yamadera, Ritsuko Ito and Shunkichi Endo
Affiliation	Department of Neuropsychiatry, Nippon Medical School
Language	JA
Volume	66
Issue	4
Year	1999
Page	229-238
Received	February 15, 1999
Accepted	April 7, 1999
Keywords	Alzheimer-type dementia, bright light therapy, cognitive function, circadian rhythm, actigraph
Abstr act	We investigated the effectiveness of bright light therapy on cognitive disturbances and its effect on circadian (sleep-wake) rhythm in Alzheimer-type dementia (ATD). Twenty-seven patients with ATD were treated with bright light therapy in the morning for 4 consecutive weeks. We evaluated the cognitive functions and circadian rhythms of the patients as a whale, and as menbers of two groups (one: questionable and mild dementia; the other: moderate and severe dementia; both groups classified by the severity criteria of Clinical Dementia Rating). We assessed circadian rhythms by actigraphy and cognitive states by Mini-Mental-State Examination (MMSE) and Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS) before and after light therapy. Bright light therapy improved circadian rhythm. Although bright light therapy had no Significant effect on the Severity of dementia, it improved the MMSE scores, cognitive functions of ADAS scores (memory > language) and non-cognitive functions of ADAS scores (behavior ≒ mood), especially in the questionable and mild dementia group. These results suggest that bright light therapy improves cognitive functions with the modification of circadian rhythm, especially in the early stages of ATD.
Correspondence to	Takao Ito, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8603, Japan