Light therapy 'can slow dementia'

[London Lass]

Light therapy 'can slow dementia'

Dementia could be slowed significantly by treatments which reset the body's natural clock, researchers have said.

The Dutch team used brighter daytime lighting - with or without the drug melatonin - to improve patients' sleep, mood and cut aggressive behaviour.

In full: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7445606.stm

[Claudia]

I am going to forward this on to my mother. She cares for an elderly family friend who has dementia & she has recently become aggressive. This may help her - can't hurt to try!

[London Lass]

I am going to forward this on to my mother. She cares for an elderly family friend who has dementia & she has recently become aggressive. This may help her - can't hurt to try!

Definitely worth a try...

[KittyMom]

Hubby and I take care of his elderly mother. We've noticed her dementia is affected by her diet and her sleep habits. This is a great discovery.

[lost indie]

Thanks for the heads-up!

My dad had dementia and this pattern fitted him to a tee. He slept all day and wandered in the night. The night is also when he raged.

He was in a state of the art facility for alzheimers and dementia....and the lighting there was VERY muted and soft. I hope they rethink the lighting scheme there.

[bambam]

hmm i have a friend who owns a tanning salon... and.. don't laugh, please.... but she said the reason she continued to "tan" after she discovered tanning beds.. was that she felt it actually helped with her depression. ok maybe that's a little extreme... no need to get skin cancer in the process, right?? altho... i go to a tanning salon myself.... i'm thinking (hoping?) that it's just an extra bonus??? is this just silly? whatcha think?

[London Lass]

hmm i have a friend who owns a tanning salon... and.. don't laugh, please.... but she said the reason she continued to "tan" after she discovered tanning beds.. was that she felt it actually helped with her depression. ok maybe that's a little extreme... no need to get skin cancer in the process, right?? altho... i go to a tanning salon myself.... i'm thinking (hoping?) that it's just an extra bonus??? is this just silly? whatcha think?

Not at all Bam - a light box is commonly used for SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), so it makes perfect sense that the tanning bed helps your friend with her depression. On the other hand though, I think a light box rather than tanning bed is a better plan!

[Claudia]

hmm i have a friend who owns a tanning salon... and.. don't laugh, please.... but she said the reason she continued to "tan" after she discovered tanning beds.. was that she felt it actually helped with her depression. ok maybe that's a little extreme... no need to get skin cancer in the process, right?? altho... i go to a tanning salon myself.... i'm thinking (hoping?) that it's just an extra bonus??? is this just silly? whatcha think?

Makes perfect sense to me, bam!

They say that people who suffer with depression should spend at least 20 minutes a day in the sun, I would think a tanning bed would have the same affect.

[LiveLaughLuv]

I just forward that link to my family. I had an aunt who suffered and eventually succumbed to that illness. Towards the end she was so aggresive we had to place her in a facility. She too walked all night, ranted and screamed like someone was killing her. It just crushed my heart to see her that way.

I now have another uncle who has downs syndrome, with the start of this disease. Another uncle has the start of this as well.

This along with any form of cancer is a horrible demise for anyone to endure or watch happen to a relative. I've had my fill for a long while. Unfortunately, I don't think it's over yet for my family....:(

[London Lass]

I just forward that link to my family. I had an aunt who suffered and eventually succumbed to that illness. Towards the end she was so aggresive we had to place her in a facility. She too walked all night, ranted and screamed like someone was killing her. It just crushed my heart to see her that way.

I now have another uncle who has downs syndrome, with the start of this disease. Another uncle has the start of this as well.

This along with any form of cancer is a horrible demise for anyone to endure or watch happen to a relative. I've had my fill for a long while. Unfortunately, I don't think it's over yet for my family....:(

I'm thinking of you LLL.

[Claudia]

I just forward that link to my family. I had an aunt who suffered and eventually succumbed to that illness. Towards the end she was so aggresive we had to place her in a facility. She too walked all night, ranted and screamed like someone was killing her. It just crushed my heart to see her that way.

I now have another uncle who has downs syndrome, with the start of this disease. Another uncle has the start of this as well.

This along with any form of cancer is a horrible demise for anyone to endure or watch happen to a relative. I've had my fill for a long while. Unfortunately, I don't think it's over yet for my family....:(

Aww, LLL. I'm sorry. :11_2_104:

[LiveLaughLuv]

Aww, LLL. I'm sorry. :11_2_104:

Thanks Claudia.

I don't know, but I guess it's in our genes and I just hope it skips me! :faintTHUD:

[Claudia]

Thanks Claudia.

I don't know, but I guess it's in our genes and I just hope it skips me! :faintTHUD:

I hope it does too LLL. :innocent0001:

[Grins]

Not at all Bam - a light box is commonly used for SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), so it makes perfect sense that the tanning bed helps your friend with her depression. On the other hand though, I think a light box rather than tanning bed is a better plan!Good info London Lass! Miss ya over ta tha Koffee Klatch=stop in fer a cuppa and all here are invited too~we have zany fun and no topic so we just hang out`

Discussed light boxes recently in the Depression thread with links to Mayo Clinic.