Application of light therapy in older adults with cognitive impairment: a systematic review

Cibeira, Nuria; Maseda, Ana; Lorenzo-López, Laura; Rodríguez-Villamil, José L.; López-López, Rocío; Millán-Calenti, José C.

doi:10.1016/j.gerinurse.2020.07.005

Cited by 25Dementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchCircadian rhythm and melatoninGeriatric Care and Nursing Homes

Application of light therapy in older adults with cognitive impairment: a systematic review

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Cibeira, Nuria, Maseda, Ana, Lorenzo-López, Laura, Rodríguez-Villamil, José L., López-López, Rocío, Millán-Calenti, José C.·2020·Geriatric Nursing

DOI 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2020.07.005

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Abstract

This systematic review aims to assess the efficacy of light therapy on behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), cognition, functional status, and quality of life in older adults with cognitive impairment; and secondarily, to identify the optimal characteristics of light therapy to establish an adequate protocol for its clinical application. We searched Web of Science and Medline databases through December 2019, resulting in 36 included articles: 3 evaluated the effects on BPSD, 25 on sleep, 12 on agitation, 10 on mood, 4 on neuropsychiatric symptoms, 4 on cognition, 2 on quality of life and 2 on functional status. Literature has shown potential evidence for positive effects of light therapy on managing sleep, behavioural and mood disturbances in people with cognitive impairment, but a limited effect on cognition, quality of life and functional status. This review provides guidelines for intervention protocols with light therapy in older people with cognitive impairment.

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A seed review validation process was applied to ensure the robustness of the search strategy and its ability to capture relevant literature, using three established systematic reviews as benchmarks.
“Additionally, we applied a seed review validation process to ensure the robustness of our search strategy and its ability to capture relevant literature.”
From Ocular light exposure interventions for sleep, circadian rhythms, rest-activity cycles, mood, and cognitive function in older adults: An Overview of Cochrane and non-Cochrane Systematic Reviews (2025) · cites this paper as [80]

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“BPSD are the most distressing symptoms of dementia for caregivers and contribute to institutionalization,(6) with agitation being one of the most relevant symptoms, affecting both formal and informal caregivers.(7) Sleep disturbances also represent an important clinical problem in dementia and are the main contributor…”
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“1 It is the main reason for the functional dependence and institutionalization of older adults, with a high economic impact on society.(2)”
Background
Content Validation of the Depressive Symptom Assessment for Older Adults
Onega, L. L. (2008) · Issues in Mental Health Nursing · doi:10.1080/01612840802182920 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
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“However, a new systematic review of the application of BLT in elderly patients with cognitive impairment shows that while BLT improves the management of sleep, behavioral and emotional disorders in patients with cognitive impairment, its impact on cognition, quality of life and functional status is limited (Cibeira et…”
Background
The Effects of Light Therapy on Sleep, Depression, Neuropsychiatric Behaviors, and Cognition Among People Living With Dementia: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
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“Other occupations were far scarcer, or absent, in the research literature, both as interventions and outcomes, limiting clinicians ’ ability to reliably use the information in practice (Cibeira et al., 2020; Ham et al., 2021; Tan et al., 2022).”
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“With the aging population worldwide, dementia has become an important public health problem and there is a desperate need for effective and low-cost treatment (Cibeira et al., 2020; Prince et al., 2015).”
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“Low-level light therapy has become a major intervention for conditions such as seasonal affective disorder, sleep/wake disorder, and cognitive impairment [217,218].”
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“There are different forms of light therapy, using outdoor sunlight, use of bright light from arti ﬁ cial indoor light source, light visors worn on the head, etc., 20 and dawn-dusk simulation that mimics natural outdoor light conditions, 21 and the use of blue wavelength light therapy.”
Background
Bright Light Therapy in Older Adults with Moderate to Very Severe Dementia: Immediate Effects on Behavior, Mood, and Physiological Parameters
Cibeira, N., Maseda, A., Lorenzo‐López, L., González‐Abraldes, I., López‐López, R., Rodríguez-Villamil, J. L., & Millán-Calentí, J. C. (2021) · Healthcare · doi:10.3390/healthcare9081065 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
“The study protocol was based on the implementation guidelines that we described in a recent review [22].”
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Light Intervention Effects on Circadian Activity Rhythm Parameters and Nighttime Sleep in Dementia Assessed by Wrist Actigraphy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
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“Aging and Disease • Volume 12, Number 4, July 2021 1039 disorders in adults with dementia (rather than the present review’s criteria of MCI) have demonstrated mixed effectiveness in some measures of cognitive impairment and sleep physiology [49, 50].”
Background
Current and Emerging Sleep Interventions for Older Adults with or without Mild Cognitive Impairment
Suraev, A. S., Kong, S. D., Schrire, Z. M., Tran, B. A., Cross, N. E., Matar, E., & Naismith, S. L. (2024) · Current Treatment Options in Neurology · doi:10.1007/s11940-024-00808-4 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
“Bright light therapy (BLT) is a non-pharmacological treatment aimed at treating the physiological changes associated with alternations of circadian rhythm in cognitively healthy older adults and those with dementia (for review, see [27]).”
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Authors: Cibeira, N., Maseda, A., Lorenzo-López, L., Rodríguez-Villamil, J. L., López-López, R., & Millán-Calenti, J. C.
Affiliations: Universidade da Coruña (ES)
ORCID: Cibeira, Nuria
Maseda, Ana
Rodríguez-Villamil, José L.
Millán-Calenti, José C.
Venue: Geriatric Nursing
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Published: 2020-11
Volume: 41
Issue: 6
Pages: 970-983
ISSN: 0197-4572 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2020.07.005
OpenAlex: W3046810092
Cited by: 25
References: 87
Citations by year: 2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 7
FWCI: 0.62
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
hdl.handle.net
Licence: cc-by-nc-nd
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license (tdm)
Locations: Geriatric Nursing (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) (submittedVersion)
RUC (Universidade Da Coruña) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders: Xunta de Galicia
Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes
Keywords: phototherapy, cognitive impairment, dementia, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, sleep, agitation, mood, neuropsychiatric symptoms, cognition, functional status, quality of life, older adults, intervention protocol
MeSH terms: Aged, Cognition, Dementia, Humans, Phototherapy, Quality of Life, Cognitive Dysfunction

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Application of light therapy in older adults with cognitive impairment: a systematic review

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