Improvement of Sleep Disorders in Patients With Alzheimer's Disease After Sunlight Exposure Therapy.

This observational study aimed to understand the effect of intervention A on sleep disorders in individuals with Alzheimer's disease receiving sunlight therapy. The primary question of the study was:

Does sunlight therapy improve sleep disorders in Alzheimer's disease? Participants will complete a questionnaire, undergo sunlight therapy. They were informed that sun exposure therapy could effectively improve sleep, and behavioral interventions were discussed to develop a health education plan. Patients received monthly telephone support and encouragement from the time of admission until the next follow-up visit. Three months after admission (until the next follow-up visit), patients completed questionnaires including the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), and the Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Disease (QOL-AD) questionnaire.

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Key information

Conditions

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) Alzheimer Disease Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Chronobiology Disorders Dementia Dyssomnias Mental Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurocognitive Disorders Neurodegenerative Diseases Occupational Diseases Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm Sleep Wake Disorders Tauopathies

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

National Taiwan University Hospital

Taipei, Taiwan, 100

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease
CDR: 0.5 - 1 point
Conscious and able to cooperate with behavioral interventions and telephone interviews
Complaints of sleep disturbances, including: daytime sleepiness, difficulty falling asleep, fragmented sleep, nighttime awakening, nocturnal wandering, and sunset syndrome.
A cohabiting family member is required as the primary caregiver, who understands and cooperates with this intervention and has signed a consent form.
If the patient is already taking sleeping pills, the maintenance dose will not be adjusted.

Exclusion criteria

Individuals with other brain injury conditions, such as cerebral palsy, brain tumors, traumatic brain injury, or stroke.
Individuals with visual impairments (assessed by comparing numbers with fingers at a distance of 30 cm upon admission).
Institutional residents.
Individuals living alone.
Individuals unable to cooperate with behavioral interventions and telephone interviews.

Treatment and study plan

sunlight therapy

Behavioral

Participants will complete a questionnaire, undergo sunlight therapy. They were informed that sun exposure therapy could effectively improve sleep, and behavioral interventions were discussed to develop a health education plan. Patients received monthly telephone support and encouragement from the time of admission until the next follow-up visit. Three months after admission (until the next follow-up visit), patients completed questionnaires including the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), and the Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Disease (QOL-AD) questionnaire.

Primary outcomes

Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI

Time frame: on enrollment days, three months after admission (until the next follow-up visit).

The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) assesses sleep quality. It has seven dimensions: sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, sleep efficiency, sleep disturbance, medication use, and daytime activity impairment. A higher PSQI score indicates poorer sleep quality. The total score ranges from 0 to 21, with a minimum score of 0, indicating very good sleep quality over the past month. Lower scores indicate better sleep quality, while a total score of 5 or below is generally considered to indicate fair sleep quality.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

National Taiwan University Hospital

Other

Registry information

Official study title

An Analysis of the Improvement of Sleep Disorders in Patients With Alzheimer's Disease After Sunlight Exposure Therapy.

Important dates

Study start: 2026
Primary completion: 2026
Study completion: 2026
First posted: Feb 4, 2026
Registry last updated: Jul 17, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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