I always wondered why my grandfather, who went to bed at nine in the evening, was wide awake and lively by five in the morning. And why my grandmother, who fell asleep in front of the TV every night (with her cup of coffee on the nightstand), would later complain about not getting enough sleep. The biorhythm of the elderly seemed like an indecipherable mystery, but perhaps it was just a question of… light. According to a recent study of the University of Surrey, A controlled dose of blue light in the morning could be the key to reprogramming our grandparents' internal clocks. Nothing invasive or pharmacological: just two hours of exposure to a specific light in the early hours of the day. An intervention as simple as it is decisive, which can improve not only the quality of sleep, but also the daily activity of the elderly.
Biorhythm is like an old clock: it needs to be adjusted (what a bad comparison. I'll make another one)
Remember when we had to rewind cassettes with a pencil when the walkman chewed them? Well, the biorhythm in the elderly is a bit like that: it still works, but it needs some adjustments. With age, the biological clock starts to slip: it is difficult to fall asleep, you wake up at dawn (when the rest of the world is snoring blissfully), and you take more naps than a cat.
The researchers ofUniversity of Surrey they understood that the problem lies mainly in two factors: eyes change with age (filter the light differently) and older people spend less time outdoors. Less natural light + more time under artificial light bulbs = biorhythm confused like a tourist without Google Maps.
A systematic review involved 36 adults over 60 who used either regular white light (the control group) or blue-enriched white light for two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening over the course of 11 weeks. Participants wore devices that tracked their sleep and activity, kind of like fitness trackers that make you feel guilty about spending all day on the couch.
It's all about timing (like in comedy movies)
The results? Illuminating. Literally. Blue-enriched light works great if you use it in the morning. But be careful: only if you use it in the morning. On the other hand, the same light in the evening makes it harder to fall asleep and causes nights more restless than the final episode of Game of Thrones.
He also said it Daan Van Der Veen, expert researcher in sleep and chronobiology:
Our research shows that light, when delivered at the right time, can be a powerful tool for improving sleep and daily activity in healthy older adults.
It's like when at a party they serve you coffee at the end of dinner instead of at the beginning: same ingredient, completely different effect.
A solution for those who live independently
The most exciting thing? This study is one of the first to test self-directed light therapy in healthy older adults living independently. We’re not talking about assisted living or hospitals, but people living in their own homes.
Debora Constantino, a post-graduate researcher, highlights the potential of this accessible and affordable approach to addressing age-related sleep problems without resorting to drugs. A solution that could be simpler than the remote control that no grandparent has ever managed to program correctly. In practice? We could soon see special lamps for the elderly that emit the right blue light in the morning. A bit like disco lights, but to improve sleep instead of dancing to the Bee Gees.
The biorhythm thanks you. As well as grandchildren who will no longer be woken up by calls at 5am.: although, I must confess, I miss those calls.
