The effect of bright light on sleep and behavior in dementia: an analytic review

The purpose of this study was to examine bright light as a means of intervention in sleep-wakefulness and behavior disorder among patients with dementia through a review of the relevant literature. Fourteen articles were reviewed in depth for study design, intervention protocols, concurrent control groups, subject characteristics, and outcome measures of behavior and sleep. Previous studies found that behavior disorders improved, although not all the studies reviewed reported a quantitative measure of improvement. The effects on sleep disorders were controversial. As a result of limitations in past studies, the effect of bright light on dementia patients is inconclusive. The current review has revealed areas of weakness in previous research that might profitably be explored in the future.