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Shedding light on light exposure in elderly with intellectual disabilities
M N Böhmer1,2, M J Valstar1,3, M P J Aarts4
1Department of General Practice, Intellectual Disability Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Journal of Intellectual Disability Research : JIDR
|February 17, 2021
Summary
Elderly individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) experience insufficient light exposure, spending most of their day in dim conditions. This lack of adequate light may contribute to sleep and mood issues in this population.
Area of Science:
- Chronobiology
- Gerontology
- Disability Studies
Background:
- Sleep problems and mood complaints are prevalent in elderly individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) residing in care facilities.
- Insufficient light exposure is a potential contributing factor to these high rates of sleep and mood disturbances.
- This study is the first to investigate personal light exposure patterns in elderly individuals with ID during their waking hours.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the personal light exposure patterns of elderly individuals with ID during their waking day.
- To assess whether current light exposure levels meet recommended thresholds for improved sleep and mood.
- To highlight the need for improved lighting environments in care facilities for this population.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 82 elderly individuals with ID (mean age 62.3 years) from 16 residential homes participated.
- Personal light exposure was continuously measured for 7-10 days using HOBO data loggers (illuminance at chest height).
- Wrist-worn accelerometers determined waking day duration by indicating bedtimes.
Main Results:
- Elderly with ID spent most of their waking day (mean 14:32:43 hours) in dim light (1-500 lux).
- Median exposure to light >1000 lux was only 32 minutes daily.
- Recommended thresholds for better sleep (>50 min) and reduced depressive symptoms (>30 min) were met on 34% and 46% of days, respectively.
- Weekend light exposure >1000 lux was lower than on weekdays.
Conclusions:
- Elderly individuals with ID predominantly experience low light levels throughout their waking day.
- Current light exposure levels in this population do not meet established recommendations for positive sleep and mood outcomes.
- Increased attention to and improvement of the lighting environment is crucial for the well-being of elderly individuals with ID.
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