Light Treatment for Sleep/Wake Disturbances in Alzheimer's Disease

Light Treatment for Sleep/Wake Disturbances in Alzheimer's Disease

The aim of this study is to demonstrate the efficacy of timed exposure to bright light for the treatment of disturbed nighttime sleep and daytime wake in community-dwelling dementia patients and their caregivers, and to determine if there are genetic relationships between memory problems and sleep problems

1. Efficacy: Up to 4 weeks of morning bright light exposure will be more efficacious than morning dim light in consolidating nighttime sleep as assessed by actigraphy.
2. Predictors of response: We expect the primary predictor of treatment response will be initial MMSE score. Secondary predictors include baseline sleep/wake and circadian parameters and age.
3. Effectiveness: Bright light treatment will be more effective than dim light in improving quality of life.
4. An understanding of some of the genetic markers of memory and/or sleep problems.

Inclusion Criteria:Alzheimer's Disease Patients:

• Stanford Alzheimer's Disease Core Center member or potential member, with diagnostic criteria met for probable AD, living with caregiver willing to participate in the protocol
• Non-institutionalized

Caregivers:

• Living in home of AD patient and willing to participate in protocol Exclusion Criteria:Alzheimer's Disease Patients:
• History of manic or bipolar disorder
• Prior bright light treatment
• Irregular or non-24 hour sleep/wake cycle
• Positive result on multi-staged RLS/PLMD
• Medical/Ophthalmologic Exclusions
• RDI >20 on overnight EdenTrace® recording

Caregivers:

• History of manic or bipolar disorder
• Medical/Ophthalmologic Exclusions