Individually Tailored Lighting System to Improve Sleep in Older Adults
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Insomnia Sleep Studies |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Psychiatry / Psychology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 65 - Any |
| Updated: | 1/31/2019 |
| Start Date: | March 2013 |
| End Date: | April 2017 |
In conjunction with investigators at the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research,
University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, we propose to develop and evaluate a
low-cost, minimally obtrusive device that delivers individualized light therapy to adults
with early-awakening insomnia - the most common sleep disturbance in older adults, and a
significant problem because of its relationship to daytime sleepiness, use of potentially
hazardous sleep medication, and reduced quality of life. The proposed device will measure
light/dark exposure data over 24 hours, estimate optimum timing for light delivery, and
deliver an individualized light dosage while subjects are asleep. Light applied through
closed eyelids in the early part of the night will delay the dim light melatonin onset, a
marker of the circadian clock, and help those with early sleep onset to fall asleep later
University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, we propose to develop and evaluate a
low-cost, minimally obtrusive device that delivers individualized light therapy to adults
with early-awakening insomnia - the most common sleep disturbance in older adults, and a
significant problem because of its relationship to daytime sleepiness, use of potentially
hazardous sleep medication, and reduced quality of life. The proposed device will measure
light/dark exposure data over 24 hours, estimate optimum timing for light delivery, and
deliver an individualized light dosage while subjects are asleep. Light applied through
closed eyelids in the early part of the night will delay the dim light melatonin onset, a
marker of the circadian clock, and help those with early sleep onset to fall asleep later
We will recruit 50 subjects who report going to bed early and desiring later bedtimes and
will ask them to wear an active and an inactive light mask for 8 consecutive weeks each. A
2-week washout period between active and inactive conditions will be applied. Outcome
measures will be collected periodically throughout the 8 weeks. Baseline (no intervention)
will be collected prior to the active and inactive lighting interventions.
will ask them to wear an active and an inactive light mask for 8 consecutive weeks each. A
2-week washout period between active and inactive conditions will be applied. Outcome
measures will be collected periodically throughout the 8 weeks. Baseline (no intervention)
will be collected prior to the active and inactive lighting interventions.
Inclusion Criteria:
- age 65 or older
- cognitively capable
- able to respond to study staff verbally and in English
- score greater than 6 using the Pittsburgh Sleepiness Quality Index
- suffer from insomnia
- suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness
Exclusion Criteria:
- Severe sleep apnea
- Severe restless leg syndrome (RLS)
- Significant cognitive impairment
- History of severe photosensitivity dermatitis
We found this trial at
1
site
Troy, New York 12180
Principal Investigator: Mariana G Figueiro, PhD
Phone: 518-687-7142
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