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

NCT07386808 | Active Not Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: 202511021RIND
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

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.

Conditions

Alzheimer's Disease (AD); Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI

  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.

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

Study Arms (1)

Routine nursing care

OTHER

no additional sunlight therapy

Behavioral: sunlight therapy

Interventions

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.

Routine nursing care

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• 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.

You may not qualify if:

• 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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Taiwan University Hospital: lead

Study Sites (1)

National Taiwan University Hospital

Taipei, Taiwan, 100, Taiwan

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Alzheimer Disease; Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Dementia; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Tauopathies; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Neurocognitive Disorders; Mental Disorders; Chronobiology Disorders; Dyssomnias; Sleep Wake Disorders; Occupational Diseases

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: SEQUENTIAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 15, 2026
• First Posted: February 4, 2026
• Study Start: May 13, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026
• Last Updated: July 17, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Locations

TW (1)