Light Therapy Improves Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease, Including Sleep

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a central nervous system disorder characterized by rigidity, tremor and other movement control symptoms. PD patients also commonly suffer from severe sleep problems, in part because of their symptoms but also because of the drugs used to treat PD.

Now a new study finds that treatment with bright light therapy can improve a variety of PD symptoms, including motor, mood and sleep problems. The study involved 12 PD patients who were exposed to white fluorescent light for one to one and a half hours per day beginning one hour before their usual bedtime. Results showed that after two weeks, most patients showed marked improvement in motor symptoms, mood, appetite, sleep and sexual function.

abstract:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/en...ubmed_RVDocSum