What are the effects of spending time outdoors in daylight on the physical health of older people and family carers: a systematic review protocol

Traynor, Victoria; Fernandez, Ritin; Caldwell, Katherine

doi:10.11124/jbisrir-2013-1066

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 26 publications

(22 reference statements)

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“…On bright, sunny days, individuals feel energetic, active and engaged. On cloudy or rainy days, people may feel like sleeping in, napping and relaxing (Hanford 2013; Traynor 2013). Sunny and cloudy days are both normal parts of nature, but a problem occurs when older adults are chronically fatigued, have low energy, nap in the day, stay awake at night and experience other symptoms of depression that diminish their quality of life.…”

Section: Neurophysiology Of Bright Light Therapymentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of bright light therapy for older adults with dementia

Onega

Pierce

2020

BJPsych advances

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SUMMARYBright light therapy is an accepted and commonly used treatment for seasonal affective and circadian rhythm disorders. In the past 20 years, researchers have examined the effectiveness of bright light therapy in improving depression and agitation in older adults with dementia. This article provides clinicians with a summary of the neurophysiology of bright light therapy, bright light research considerations, an evidence-based bright light protocol, problems related to bright light therapy, and clinical implications for bright light therapy in older adults with dementia. Bright light exposure is a safe, non-pharmacological treatment that is currently underutilised in this population. Clinicians may find bright light therapy beneficial as a primary or adjunctive treatment in reducing depression and agitation in older adults with dementia.

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Section: Neurophysiology Of Bright Light Therapymentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of bright light therapy for older adults with dementia

Onega

Pierce

2020

BJPsych advances

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Modulation of food consumption in healthy adults by exposure to coloured lighting

Edmondson-Jones¹

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The circadian rhythm (body clock) describes an endogenous (self-sustained) cycle that, amongst other cyclic functions, signals to the body when it is time to eat via the secretion of appetite stimulating and satiety hormones. Those suffering a misalignment of the circadian rhythm, such as dementia patients, may experience interruptions to their eating behavior, often resulting in malnutrition. The circadian rhythm is adjusted (entrained) to the local environment by external cues, or zeitgebers, which include natural daylight. There is some evidence that artificial white lighting can be used to mimic natural daylight in order to entrain the circadian rhythm to modulate normal sleeping patterns in those suffering from misalignment and in those who are not. However, little is known about any effects that coloured lighting might have on the circadian rhythm, or any potential to entrain the circadian rhythm to modulate food consumption. The present study investigated the effects of exposure to blue and yellow coloured lighting whilst eating on food consumption. Thirty non-obese participants (Age 26.8 (12.5)) years completed a repeated measures trial on three separate occasions, one day per week, over a period of three weeks. For each trial, participants consumed an ad libitum homogenous pasta meal until 'comfortably full and satisfied' for the duration of 30 minutes. Visual analogue scales were used to record appetite throughout. After checking for normality, one way ANOVA with repeated measures and Bonferroni post-hoc analysis revealed a significant increase in food consumption for the sample under yellow lighting compared to the white lighting control (P = 0.009), and very significant differences in food consumption for the sample between yellow and blue lighting (P = 0.002). However, 3*2 ANOVA identified a colour*sex interaction, with males consuming significantly more food under yellow compared to white (P = 0.002), but no significant increase or decrease under any coloured lighting condition in females. There was no effect of colour on appetite, hunger, or mood. There was no effect of sequence or restraint on food consumption. These novel findings suggest that exposure to yellow coloured lighting whilst eating can increase food consumption, most specifically in males. Further research is required to establish how coloured light-induced changes in food consumption occur, and to identify if there is an optimum shade of yellow and duration of pre-load exposure. These findings could be of particular interest in the context of patients suffering from malnutrition due to circadian misalignment, and the potential to develop new noninvasive treatments through lighting design and medical device development. I would like to thank the staff and students of Sheffield Hallam University for their significant contributions to this study, without which it would not have been possible. Particular thanks are extended to my research assistants, who ably assisted me in the laboratory, and to each of the thirty wonderful participants...

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What are the effects of spending time outdoors in daylight on the physical health of older people and family carers: a systematic review protocol

Cited by 2 publications

References 26 publications

Use of bright light therapy for older adults with dementia

Use of bright light therapy for older adults with dementia

Modulation of food consumption in healthy adults by exposure to coloured lighting

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