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Home-based tailored light therapy improves memory, sleep efficiency, and circadian stimulus in mild cognitive impairment

In a 24-week randomized placebo-controlled trial, active light therapy significantly improved ADAS-Cog memory scores (p=0.035) and morning circadian stimulus AUC (0.021 vs -0.030, p=0.025) compared to placebo. Sleep percent also improved (-0.21 vs -1.29, p=0.042) and wake after sleep onset decreased (2.19 vs 8.23 min, p=0.031) in the active group.

Last updated: Aug 2, 2026•1 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score42/100
Human RCT★★☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Home-Based Tailored Light Therapy for Sleep, Mood, and Cognitive Outcomes in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Trial.

observational

Li W, Suarez-Farinas M, Shuster A, Mednick S, Figueiro MG · Journal of applied gerontology : the official journal of the Southern Gerontological Society (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: 24 weeks
Intervention: Home-based tailored light therapy (active vs placebo light) delivered for 24 weeks
Outcome: ADAS-Cog memory scores, morning circadian stimulus AUC, sleep percent, wake percent, wake after sleep onset
Effect Size: N/A
Population: 61 participants with mild cognitive impairment (mean age 69.7 years, 52% male, mean MoCA 21.4)

Result:

PubMed: 42527889DOI: 10.1177/07334648261474211

Mechanism Graph

Light exposure increases circadian stimulus (CS) AUC
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Enhanced circadian entrainment
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Improved sleep consolidation
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Result: Better memory and sleep outcomes

Limitations

  • ⚠Small sample size (n=61)
  • ⚠No blinding of participants to light condition may introduce bias
  • ⚠Short post-intervention follow-up (only to week 37)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary outcome of this light therapy trial?▼

The primary outcome was improvement in ADAS-Cog memory scores, which showed a significant benefit for active light over placebo (p=0.035).

How long did the intervention last?▼

The intervention lasted 24 weeks, with assessments at baseline, week 13, week 25, and post-intervention at week 37.

Who was eligible for this study?▼

Participants were people living with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), with a mean age of 69.7 years and mean MoCA score of 21.4.

What sleep measures improved with active light?▼

Sleep percent, wake percent, and wake after sleep onset all significantly improved in the active light group compared to placebo.

Products

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References

  1. 1.Li W, Suarez-Farinas M, Shuster A, Mednick S, Figueiro MG. "Home-Based Tailored Light Therapy for Sleep, Mood, and Cognitive Outcomes in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Trial.." Journal of applied gerontology : the official journal of the Southern Gerontological Society, 2026. PMID: 42527889 DOI: 10.1177/07334648261474211
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.