Effect of Light on Dementia Patients: A Literature Review

Running head: DEMENTIA
DEMENTIA
Name of the Student
Name of the university
Author’s note

1DEMENTIA
Effect of light on the dementia patients
Introduction
Dementia is a neurodegenerative disorder that occurs mostly in the older adults due to the
death of the nerve cells due to several factors. The dementia care is a significant growing health
care need with the growing aged population. There are almost no pharmacological treatments for
dementia and management of dementia mainly involves enhancing the mood and cognition of
the patient, helping them in social engagement and fostering a safe environment for them. The
key strategy to manage dementia in patients includes regular monitoring of the patient's health
and cognition and initiation of the pharmacologic and the non pharmacological treatment. Apart
from all these there are several environmental modifications that can bring about better cognitive
outcomes in patients (Chaudhury et al. 2013, p. 223-229). Poor sleep quality and falls are some
of the problems faced by the elderly suffering from dementia. People with dementia needs more
light as the as people grow older the visual capacity of the eye changes and more light is required
for the visual functions. Hence my chosen topic of research would be light, and how it impacts
on the patient's care. The rationale for this topic will be evidenced by a literature review
followed by a plan of action. A summary statement will be provided describing about the
achievements after the evaluation of the interventions followed by a succinct conclusion.
Literature review
Chong et al.(2013, p. 565) have stated the adequate lighting have a positive impact on
people suffering from dementia, as it has a positive impact on the biological clock and sleep
patterns of the older adults with dementia. Absence of adequate light can cause confusion in the
daily routine and reduces the activity and the alertness and in turn increases the frequency of the

2DEMENTIA
daytime napping. If the right quantity of light enters the retina then it can synchronize the cardiac
rhythms to the 24 hours day and night cycle (Bedrosian et al. 2012). This is referred to as the
non visual system. Circadian disruption might occur if the indoor lightings are not dark enough
or of the appropriate color for activating the circadian system (Baird et al. 2012, p.988).
Biodynamic lighting has been found to enhance the perceptual, visual and biological needs of the
older patients with dementia as they help them to stay independent in their homes and
contributing to the better quality of life (Fonken and Nelson 2014, p. 667-669). Researches
regarding light and health have shown that biological lighting that mimics natural lighting can
has a high beneficial effect on the physiological, biological and the psychological well being of
people with dementia (Bedrosian et al. 2013, p.988). Biodynamic lighting can not only reduce
the running cost but can also help to maintain healthy bones. Increase of the visual fictions will
help to reduce trips and falls in the older adults (Fonken and Nelson 2014,p. 667-669).
Although nothing is as useful as natural day light, natural daylight is always not feasible
for the persons living in the indoors. Illuminating the indoors pose a threat from the point of
environment sustainability and energy consumption. Proper utilization of the lightings can use
less energy and result in cooling energy saving for the buildings (Ellis et al.2014). In the
architectural design the main challenge in to provide the daylight or mimic the daylight using the
artificial light sources and ensuring that color temperature change and the lighting levels sync
with the nature's rhythm (Chong et al. 2013, p.565). The timing of the light and the wavelength
of the light absorbed by the body are the two most important factors for the biological effect.
Circadian rhythms are normally regulated by the exposure of the body towards the blue and the
green spectrum (Ellis et al. 2014,p. 223-245). At noon there is a high intensity of the blue light
region, the late afternoon provides the red and the orange light and as the sun sets it becomes