Over the past year, new innovations in light therapy have been put forward as possible tools to help older adults improve their circadian rhythm and sleep quality.
The benefits of chronologically timed light therapy now extend to lowering the risk for heart disease, a new study shows.
It’s no coincidence: There is a strong link between light therapy, circadian rhythm and heart health, the researchers say. In particular, improved sleep cycles in older adults could help lower the risk for stroke, the study authors said.
When exposed to intense morning light — 10,000 lux “happy” lamps, similar to what is used to treating mood disorders — over the course of a week, study participants improved their sleep quality and increased adenosine levels in the heart. The latter plays a major role in regulating the heart to lower hypertension and heart failure.
The researchers also explored how various therapies beyond light therapy interacted with one another, including drug regimens and meal times.
“There are literally millions of patients who could benefit from [light therapy],” lead author Tobias Eckle, MD, PhD, said in a statement. “The treatments are almost all low-risk. Some involve using light boxes that are already on the market.”
Many senior living communities are implementing advanced lighting systems to try to improve residents’ sleep quality.
In recent months, numerous studies have explored the nuanced ways in which more focused light therapy can benefit older adults: acting as a “washing machine” to clear out Alzheimer’s-causing toxins in the brain, or counteracting the side effects of chemotherapy.
Several devices, such as Neuronic’s light therapy helmet, already have made their way into senior living settings.
The light/circadian rhythm study was conducted by scientists at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and was published Thursday in the journal Circulation Research.
