Bright Light Therapy in Parkinson's Disease: An Overview of the Background and Evidence

Sleep disorders are common in Parkinson's disease (PD) and seem to be strongly associated with depression. It has been suggested that sleep disorders as well as depression are caused by a disturbed circadian rhythm. Indeed, PD patients are prone to misalignment of their circadian rhythm due to...

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Main Authors: Sonja Rutten, Chris Vriend, Odile A. van den Heuvel, Jan H. Smit, Henk W. Berendse, Ysbrand D. van der Werf
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:Parkinson's Disease
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/767105
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author Sonja Rutten
Chris Vriend
Odile A. van den Heuvel
Jan H. Smit
Henk W. Berendse
Ysbrand D. van der Werf
author_facet Sonja Rutten
Chris Vriend
Odile A. van den Heuvel
Jan H. Smit
Henk W. Berendse
Ysbrand D. van der Werf
author_sort Sonja Rutten
collection DOAJ
description Sleep disorders are common in Parkinson's disease (PD) and seem to be strongly associated with depression. It has been suggested that sleep disorders as well as depression are caused by a disturbed circadian rhythm. Indeed, PD patients are prone to misalignment of their circadian rhythm due to various factors, and many patients with PD display a phase advance of their circadian rhythm. Current treatment options for sleep disorders and depression in patients with PD are limited and can have serious side effects; alternative treatments are therefore badly needed. Bright light therapy (BLT) restores circadian rhythmicity effectively in mood- and sleep-disturbed patients without PD. The few studies that focused on the efficacy of BLT in patients with PD demonstrated a positive effect of BLT not only on sleep and mood but also on motor function. More research on the neurobiology and efficacy of BLT in PD is warranted.
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id doaj-art-5fb3bc21bb5e404db4e81f4c5f568e6b
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issn 2090-8083
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language English
publishDate 2012-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Parkinson's Disease
spelling doaj-art-5fb3bc21bb5e404db4e81f4c5f568e6b2025-08-20T02:23:51ZengWileyParkinson's Disease2090-80832042-00802012-01-01201210.1155/2012/767105767105Bright Light Therapy in Parkinson's Disease: An Overview of the Background and EvidenceSonja Rutten0Chris Vriend1Odile A. van den Heuvel2Jan H. Smit3Henk W. Berendse4Ysbrand D. van der Werf5Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The NetherlandsDepartment of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The NetherlandsDepartment of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The NetherlandsDepartment of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The NetherlandsDepartment of Neurology, VU University Medical Center, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The NetherlandsDepartment of Anatomy and Neuroscience, VU University Medical Center, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The NetherlandsSleep disorders are common in Parkinson's disease (PD) and seem to be strongly associated with depression. It has been suggested that sleep disorders as well as depression are caused by a disturbed circadian rhythm. Indeed, PD patients are prone to misalignment of their circadian rhythm due to various factors, and many patients with PD display a phase advance of their circadian rhythm. Current treatment options for sleep disorders and depression in patients with PD are limited and can have serious side effects; alternative treatments are therefore badly needed. Bright light therapy (BLT) restores circadian rhythmicity effectively in mood- and sleep-disturbed patients without PD. The few studies that focused on the efficacy of BLT in patients with PD demonstrated a positive effect of BLT not only on sleep and mood but also on motor function. More research on the neurobiology and efficacy of BLT in PD is warranted.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/767105
spellingShingle Sonja Rutten
Chris Vriend
Odile A. van den Heuvel
Jan H. Smit
Henk W. Berendse
Ysbrand D. van der Werf
Bright Light Therapy in Parkinson's Disease: An Overview of the Background and Evidence
Parkinson's Disease
title Bright Light Therapy in Parkinson's Disease: An Overview of the Background and Evidence
title_full Bright Light Therapy in Parkinson's Disease: An Overview of the Background and Evidence
title_fullStr Bright Light Therapy in Parkinson's Disease: An Overview of the Background and Evidence
title_full_unstemmed Bright Light Therapy in Parkinson's Disease: An Overview of the Background and Evidence
title_short Bright Light Therapy in Parkinson's Disease: An Overview of the Background and Evidence
title_sort bright light therapy in parkinson s disease an overview of the background and evidence
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/767105
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