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As we age, the internal body clock that coordinates our physiology with the
24-hour day falters. Older people tend to get tired
earlier and wake up earlier. Sleep problems, which commonly trouble the
elderly, aren't just an annoyance. Lack of sleep can impair memory, disrupt
metabolism, and perhaps even hasten death.
As some people get into their sixties and seventies, they find themselves going to bed at
6:00 or 7:00 p.m. in the evening and waking at 3:00 or 4:00 a.m. in the morning.
When people reach their seventies and eighties, circadian rhythms can flatten out
and often lose the ability to maintain a functional sleep-wake
cycle. This phenomenon is most notable in elderly care facilities where residents may
sleep at any hour of the day or night, often for a portion of every hour.
Light therapy can remedy early rising syndrome in the elderly by shifting sufferers to a
normal nighttime sleeping schedule. Elderly people with fragmented sleeping patterns can
also benefit from light therapy, which can consolidate their sleep patterns to
night time. Studies have shown that light therapy can help older people stay more alert during
the daytime, as well as prevent the "night wandering" which complicates the care
of many elderly people with Alzheimer's or other types of dementia. Recent studies
indicate that the reduction of circadian rhythm disturbance through the use of light
therapy can result in an improvement in the cognitive state and quality of
life in early-stage
Alzheimer's-type dementia.
Aging brings physiological changes to the eye. These changes in the
lens and cornea cause increased glare from "Bright-Light" therapy
which most elderly people find difficult to tolerate.
Additionally the sophisticated repair system that
protects the retina from the oxidative damage resulting from exposure to
bright light diminishes with age. This increases the risk of light
induced retinal damage and blindness in this vulnerable population. The
hazard from bright light is compounded because most elderly people have some significant retinal damage, and many are taking
photosensitizing medications. Click for technical information on age-related eye damage from bright light
Since the Sunnex Lo-LIGHT lamp provides the same physiological stimulus as do the high intensity, full spectrum bright lights, one can achieve the benefits of light therapy safely and comfortably by using Sunnex's low intensity technology. The comfortable soft green glow of low-intensity light from the Sunnex Lo-LIGHT lamp is as safe as normal indoor lighting for everyone, and without the sharp glare from a "Bright Light" unit.
