The Must-Have Treatment for Alzheimer’s

An Alzheimer’s diagnosis is about as devastating as they come.

In addition to memory loss, the disease causes agitation, restlessness, aggression, and sleep disturbances—symptoms that make life miserable for both the sick person and those caring for them.

But while there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, there is hope.

Because scientists have identified a simple, natural solution that could dramatically improve quality of life for millions of Alzheimer’s patients.

Solutions to medical problems don’t have to come from a pharmacy… they don’t have to come with a laundry list of side effects… and they don’t have to cost an arm and a leg.

Case in point? Researchers found that something as simple as light can help alleviate some of the worse symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

For the study, Alzheimer’s patients were exposed to a special “daytime lighting intervention” during daylight hours (wake time until dinner time).

And the results were remarkable.

After just four weeks, the patients experienced improvements in irritability and wandering.

But the most dramatic improvements of all were in sleep—an encouraging finding since these patients often sleep for much of the day while being awake for a good portion of the night.

The lack of sleep can set these patients up for other major problems, like making them more likely to fall, more agitated, and making their memory problems even worse.

In fact, sleep problems alone are often the reason Alzheimer’s patients end up in a long-term care facility.

Another study from a few years ago found strikingly similar results. When patients with moderate dementia were exposed to low-level blue lights, they experienced improvements in sleep quality, a decrease in depression and agitation, and an increase in their activity level.

There’s a good reason why these special lights had such a dramatic impact. Exposing the patients to more blue light during the day helped them restore their circadian rhythm.

One of these days, these types of lights will become standard in all hospitals and medical facilities. Until then, here’s what you can do:

Whether you (or your loved one) is in a hospital, a long-term care facility, or at home, be sure to get some sun exposure every morning.  After all, the specialized lights used in these studies are just imitating what the sun does naturally.

Being outside in the sun will help set your circadian rhythm for the day.

Next, wear amber blue-light blocking glasses starting at 8 p.m. (you can get them at Amazon.com). This will reduce your blue light exposure at night, another important step in maintaining your circadian rhythm.

To a brighter day,

Dr. Richard Gerhauser, M.D.