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. 2021 Apr;65(4):361-372.
doi: 10.1111/jir.12822. Epub 2021 Feb 16.

Shedding light on light exposure in elderly with intellectual disabilities

M N Böhmer  1   2 , M J Valstar  1   3 , M P J Aarts  4 , P J E Bindels  5 , A Oppewal  1 , E J W van Someren  6   7   8 , D A M Festen  1   9
Affiliations

Shedding light on light exposure in elderly with intellectual disabilities

M N Böhmer et al. J Intellect Disabil Res. 2021 Apr.

Abstract

Background: Light exposure affects mood and sleep regulation. Sleep problems and mood complaints are common in elderly with intellectual disabilities (ID) living in care facilities. Insufficient light exposure is hypothesised to contribute to the high prevalence of these problems. The current study is the first to describe the personal light exposure pattern during the waking day in elderly with ID.

Methods: The study sample consists of 82 elderly with ID (aged 62.3 ± 9.4 years) living in 16 residential homes of three care organisations in the Netherlands. Personal light exposure was measured continuously for 7-10 days using a HOBO data logger light sensor, measuring illuminance at chest height. Participants wore a wrist-worn accelerometer (Actiwatch or Geneactiv) to indicate the bedtimes to determine the waking day.

Results: The variation in illuminance is small during the waking day. Elderly with ID spend most of their waking day (mean duration = 14:32:43 h) in dim light (1-500 lux) environment and spend a median of 32 min in light > 1000 lux. Within participants, the threshold associated with better sleep (>50 min of light > 1000 lux) was reached for 34% of the days, and the threshold associated with less depressive symptoms (>30 min of light > 1000 lux) was reached in 46% of the days. Exposure > 1000 lux was lower during weekends than during weekdays.

Conclusion: Elderly with ID spend most of their waking day in low light levels and did not meet the proposed values associated with better sleep and mood. Given the importance of adequate light exposure for regulation of sleep and mood, and the prevalence of sleep and mood problems in elderly with ID, the current study suggests that the lit environment for this already frail population should be given more attention.

Keywords: aged; daylight; mood; photoperiod; residential facilities; sleep.

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Conflict of interest statement

No conflicts of interest have been declared.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Flowchart inclusion of participants and selection of data.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
The personal illuminance pattern in lux of the waking day (06.00–22.00 h) of 33 participants between October 2015 to April 2016 and October to December 2017. Mean light exposure data for each hour were averaged per subject and then average across subjects. Error bars indicate the 95% confidence intervals of mean hourly light exposure. The vertical lines indicate average get‐up time and bedtime. [Colour figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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