The blue light in the morning may help older people sleep better in the evening.
Researchers from the University of Surrey in the UK conducted an experiment involving 36 volunteers over the age of 60 and tested their response to two-hour sessions of blue and normal white light twice a day over several weeks.
The focus on older people was cautious: As we age, we tend to reduce the time outdoors and increase the time being exposed to artificial light, but we also put our aging eyes in. There’s little blue light. All of these various factors affect the body’s circadian rhythm and then sleep patterns.
“We believe this is one of the first studies to examine the effects of self-managed phototherapy on healthy elderly people living independently to support sleep and daily activities.” say Deborah Constantino, a chronobiologist at the University of Surrey.
The results were impressive. Blue Light treatments preceded the increase in normal daily activities, prior to better quality sleep. However, this was only true for morning doses, and night exposure was correlated with greater difficulty and staying asleep.
In other words, timing is extremely important. Researchers suggest that morning doses can help us train our daily rhythms and teach our bodies when to wake up and therefore when to sleep. Meanwhile, the evening dose Destroy the same patternwhich is also why phones and laptops come with blue light filters for use in the evening.
“Morning green light can increase the signal of daytime awakening, increase sleep pressure and homeostatic drive for evening sleep, and improve sleep integration.” write Researcher of published papers.
This study showed that sunlight exposure-exposure to light above the intensity equivalent to ambient light on cloudy days increased daily activity levels and participants tended to go to bed earlier. This fits what we know about sunlight. Increases mood and attention level.
This idea that blue light therapy could help us as we age; Previous researchthese studies usually involved older people with dementia who lived in a controlled environment. This new study is like a real world test.
“Our research shows that carefully timed light interventions can be a powerful tool for improving sleep and daily activities in healthy older adults.” say Darn van der Wen, a chronobiologist at the University of Surrey.
“Focusing on the blue light in the morning and maximizing daylight exposure will help older people achieve a more restful sleep and maintain a healthier, more active lifestyle.”
This study is published in Jerocience.
