Bright Light Used in Fighting Dementia
While dementia is not currently a curable disorder, there is a new weapon in holding its effects at bay for at least a while longer and extending quality of life for those suffering its effects. By installing bright lights (1000 lux) and keeping them on from 9am to 6pm and coupling it with melatonin, results achieved were a 5 percent reduction in memory loss, a 19 percent reduction in depression, and a 53 percent reduction in daily activity limits. Add to this a strenghtening of the patient’s sleep cycle, which allows for family care to function normally without sleep interruptions at all hours of the night, and we see a growing possibility for the increasing of home care by several months at the least.
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