This is part of the monthly MassAITC webinar series.
Abstract:
Light exposure is the primary regulator of human circadian rhythms, influencing many aspects of our physiology and behavior, including sleep, alertness, and mood, as well as many neuroendocrine and cognitive functions. While we have evolved experiencing “bright days and dark nights,” most of us now experience significantly darker days and brighter nights than our pre-modern ancestors, likely resulting in widespread circadian disruption. And as we age, the relationship between light exposure, circadian rhythms, and sleep can be further compromised both through normal aging (e.g., less light reaching the retina due to clouding of the lens) and age-related risk factors, such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), which is known to damage the brain’s master clock. This webinar will review the current science related to light exposure, circadian rhythms, and sleep, looking at aging and AD populations in particular. We will further discuss how needs in the area led to the development of the Speck – a wearable light exposure device designed to improve the sleep and circadian entrainment of people with AD – and share the results of an a2 pilot clinical study that used the Speck to study correlations between light exposure patterns and sleep metrics.