The DOI matches its Crossref record; 35 of the 36 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Exposure to light at night and risk of depression in the elderly.
Abstract
Background Recent advances in understanding the fundamental links between chronobiology and depressive disorders have enabled exploring novel risk factors for depression in the field of biological rhythms. Increased exposure to light at night (LAN) is common in modern life, and LAN exposure is associated with circadian misalignment. However, whether LAN exposure in home settings is associated with depression remains unclear. Methods We measured the intensities of nighttime bedroom light and ambulatory daytime light along with overnight urinary melatonin excretion (UME) in 516 elderly individuals (mean age, 72.8). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale. Results The median nighttime light intensity was 0.8lx (interquartile range, 0.2-3.3). The depressed group (n=101) revealed significantly higher prevalence of LAN exposure (average intensity, ≥ 5 lx) compared with that of the nondepressed group (n=415) using a multivariate logistic regression model adjusted for daytime light exposure, insomnia, hypertension, sleep duration, and physical activity [adjusted odds ratio (OR): 1.89; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.10-3.25; P=0.02]. Consistently, another parameter of LAN exposure (duration of intensity ≥ 10 lx, ≥ 30 min) was significantly more prevalent in the depressed than in the nondepressed group (adjusted OR: 1.71; 95% CI, 1.01-2.89; P=0.046). In contrast, UME was not significantly associated with depressive symptoms. Limitation Cross-sectional analysis. Conclusion These results suggested that LAN exposure in home settings is significantly associated with depressive symptoms in the general elderly population. The risk of depression may be reduced by keeping nighttime bedroom dark.
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“Nevertheless, an increasing body of research suggests that exposure to blue light at night may increase the risk of developing depression, presenting a completely opposite conclusion.[16–18]”
From Effectiveness of visible light for seasonal affective disorder: A systematic review and network meta-analysis (2025) · cites this paper as [16]
Citations
Cites
International physical activity questionnaire: 12-country reliability and validity
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A Phase Response Curve to Single Bright Light Pulses in Human Subjects
Khalsa, S. B. S., Jewett, M. E., Cajochen, C., & Czeisler, C. A. (2003) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2003.040477 · Cited by 1,040
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The dark side of light at night: physiological, epidemiological, and ecological consequences
Navara, K. J., & Nelson, R. J. (2007) · Journal of Pineal Research · doi:10.1111/j.1600-079x.2007.00473.x · Cited by 795 · cited 1×
“In contrast, increased LAN exposure is observed because of artificial lighting, not only in night-shift workers but also in individuals with normal circadian lifestyles (Navara and Nelson, 2007).”
BackgroundThe Short Form of the Geriatric Depression Scale: A Comparison With the 30-Item Form
Burke, W. J., Roccaforte, W. H., & Wengel, S. P. (1991) · Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology · doi:10.1177/089198879100400310 · Cited by 731
Depressive Symptoms and Risks of Coronary Heart Disease and Mortality in Elderly Americans
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How might circadian rhythms control mood? Let me count the ways
McClung, C. A. (2013) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.02.019 · Cited by 507
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1 of the 36 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.
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Cho, Y.-M., Ryu, S., Lee, B. R., Kim, K., Lee, E., & Choi, J. W. (2015) · Chronobiology International · doi:10.3109/07420528.2015.1073158 · Cited by 490
Timing of light exposure affects mood and brain circuits
Bedrosian, T. A., & Nelson, R. J. (2017) · Translational Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/tp.2016.262 · Cited by 356
Paksarian, D., Rudolph, K. E., Stapp, E. K., Dunster, G. P., He, J., Mennitt, D. J., Hattar, S. S., Casey, J. A., James, P., & Merikangas, K. R. (2020) · JAMA Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.1935 · Cited by 230
An, K., Zhao, H., Miao, Y., Xu, Q., Li, Y.-F., Ma, Y.-Q., Shi, Y.-M., Shen, J.-W., Meng, J.-J., Yao, Y.-G., et al. (2020) · Nature Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/s41593-020-0640-8 · Cited by 176
Electric light, particularly at night, disrupts human circadian rhythmicity: is that a problem?
Stevens, R. G., & Zhu, Y. L. (2015) · Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rstb.2014.0120 · Cited by 168
Metadata
- Authors
- Obayashi, K., Saeki, K., Iwamoto, J., Ikada, Y., & Kurumatani, N.
- Affiliations
- Nara Medical University (JP)
- Tenri Health Care University (JP)
- Corresponding author
- Obayashi, Kenji
- Venue
- Journal of Affective Disorders
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2013-10
- Volume
- 151
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 331-336
- ISSN
- 0165-0327 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2011293479
- Cited by
- 117
- References
- 36
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 1
- FWCI
- 2.70
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Affective Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Japan Diabetes Foundation
- Japan Science and Technology Agency
- Meiji Yasuda Life Foundation of Health and Welfare
- Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Welfare Foundation
- Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
- Osaka Gas Group Welfare Foundation
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Impact of Light on Environment and Health
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
- Keywords
- light at night, depression, older adults, circadian misalignment, urinary melatonin, depressive symptoms, chronobiology, biological rhythms, insomnia, sleep duration
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Circadian Rhythm, Cross-Sectional Studies, Depression, Female, Humans, Light, Male, Melatonin, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Risk Factors
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