Light in the Senior Home: Effects of Dynamic and Individual Light Exposure on Sleep, Cognition, and Well-Being
Disrupted sleep is common among nursing home patients and is associated with cognitive decline and reduced well-being. Sleep disruptions may in part be a result of insufficient daytime light exposure. This pilot study examined the effects of dynamic “circadian” lighting and individual light exposure...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Clocks & Sleep |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2624-5175/2/4/40 |
| _version_ | 1797544776542715904 |
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| author | Myriam Juda Teresa Liu-Ambrose Fabio Feldman Cristian Suvagau Ralph E. Mistlberger |
| author_facet | Myriam Juda Teresa Liu-Ambrose Fabio Feldman Cristian Suvagau Ralph E. Mistlberger |
| author_sort | Myriam Juda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Disrupted sleep is common among nursing home patients and is associated with cognitive decline and reduced well-being. Sleep disruptions may in part be a result of insufficient daytime light exposure. This pilot study examined the effects of dynamic “circadian” lighting and individual light exposure on sleep, cognitive performance, and well-being in a sample of 14 senior home residents. The study was conducted as a within-subject study design over five weeks of circadian lighting and five weeks of conventional lighting, in a counterbalanced order. Participants wore wrist accelerometers to track rest–activity and light profiles and completed cognitive batteries (National Institute of Health (NIH) toolbox) and questionnaires (depression, fatigue, sleep quality, lighting appraisal) in each condition. We found no significant differences in outcome variables between the two lighting conditions. Individual differences in overall (indoors and outdoors) light exposure levels varied greatly between participants but did not differ between lighting conditions, except at night (22:00–6:00), with maximum light exposure being greater in the conventional lighting condition. Pooled data from both conditions showed that participants with higher overall morning light exposure (6:00–12:00) had less fragmented and more stable rest–activity rhythms with higher relative amplitude. Rest–activity rhythm fragmentation and long sleep duration both uniquely predicted lower cognitive performance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:05:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c0817ea5cc824d53a6cd8ce0913202ad |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2624-5175 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:05:14Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Clocks & Sleep |
| spelling | doaj.art-c0817ea5cc824d53a6cd8ce0913202ad2023-11-21T00:44:26ZengMDPI AGClocks & Sleep2624-51752020-12-012455757610.3390/clockssleep2040040Light in the Senior Home: Effects of Dynamic and Individual Light Exposure on Sleep, Cognition, and Well-BeingMyriam Juda0Teresa Liu-Ambrose1Fabio Feldman2Cristian Suvagau3Ralph E. Mistlberger4Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, CanadaAging, Mobility, and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, CanadaClinical Quality and Patient Safety, Fraser Health Authority, 13450 102nd Ave., Surrey, BC V3T 5X3, CanadaConservation and Energy Management Engineering, BC Hydro, 333 Dunsmuir St., Vancouver, BC V6B 5R3, CanadaSleep and Circadian Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, CanadaDisrupted sleep is common among nursing home patients and is associated with cognitive decline and reduced well-being. Sleep disruptions may in part be a result of insufficient daytime light exposure. This pilot study examined the effects of dynamic “circadian” lighting and individual light exposure on sleep, cognitive performance, and well-being in a sample of 14 senior home residents. The study was conducted as a within-subject study design over five weeks of circadian lighting and five weeks of conventional lighting, in a counterbalanced order. Participants wore wrist accelerometers to track rest–activity and light profiles and completed cognitive batteries (National Institute of Health (NIH) toolbox) and questionnaires (depression, fatigue, sleep quality, lighting appraisal) in each condition. We found no significant differences in outcome variables between the two lighting conditions. Individual differences in overall (indoors and outdoors) light exposure levels varied greatly between participants but did not differ between lighting conditions, except at night (22:00–6:00), with maximum light exposure being greater in the conventional lighting condition. Pooled data from both conditions showed that participants with higher overall morning light exposure (6:00–12:00) had less fragmented and more stable rest–activity rhythms with higher relative amplitude. Rest–activity rhythm fragmentation and long sleep duration both uniquely predicted lower cognitive performance.https://www.mdpi.com/2624-5175/2/4/40circadian rhythmssleeplightentrainmentcognitionaging |
| spellingShingle | Myriam Juda Teresa Liu-Ambrose Fabio Feldman Cristian Suvagau Ralph E. Mistlberger Light in the Senior Home: Effects of Dynamic and Individual Light Exposure on Sleep, Cognition, and Well-Being Clocks & Sleep circadian rhythms sleep light entrainment cognition aging |
| title | Light in the Senior Home: Effects of Dynamic and Individual Light Exposure on Sleep, Cognition, and Well-Being |
| title_full | Light in the Senior Home: Effects of Dynamic and Individual Light Exposure on Sleep, Cognition, and Well-Being |
| title_fullStr | Light in the Senior Home: Effects of Dynamic and Individual Light Exposure on Sleep, Cognition, and Well-Being |
| title_full_unstemmed | Light in the Senior Home: Effects of Dynamic and Individual Light Exposure on Sleep, Cognition, and Well-Being |
| title_short | Light in the Senior Home: Effects of Dynamic and Individual Light Exposure on Sleep, Cognition, and Well-Being |
| title_sort | light in the senior home effects of dynamic and individual light exposure on sleep cognition and well being |
| topic | circadian rhythms sleep light entrainment cognition aging |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2624-5175/2/4/40 |
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