“Outdoor” Trick Eases Alzheimer’s (PROTECTS Brain Health)
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted January 14, 2024
We all could use a little more sunshine in our lives.
How do I know? Because when you test most people’s blood for vitamin D (especially during the winter) nearly EVERYONE runs short.
Vitamin D is produced in your body when sunlight strikes your skin.
But the folks who may need sunshine the MOST are those who tend to get it the least. And that’s Alzheimer’s patients.
However, an exciting new study has uncovered a simple and effective solution.
Folks battling Alzheimer’s frequently spend LESS time outdoors and have reduced overall light exposure than the rest of us.
And yet a growing body of research finds sunlight can have remarkable benefits for folks with dementia.
You see, a region of the brain called the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)—which oversees sleep cycles and circadian rhythms—has been linked to the progression of Alzheimer’s.
And now a new study published in the journal PLOS ONE, found that stimulating the SCN with light therapy can EASE some of the most devastating symptoms of Alzheimer’s.
You can directly stimulate the SCN by exposing someone to specific wavelengths of light or having them spend more time in the sun.
This light exposure, in turn, resets their circadian rhythms and improves sleep.
Around 70 percent of Alzheimer’s patients experience sleep disruption, especially in the early stages of the disease.
But improved sleep can alleviate some of Alzheimer’s most troubling symptoms, including…
- apathy,
- depression,
- agitation,
- and aggression.
We’re all spending less time outside in the sun than people did in the past. And we’re paying the price by missing out on the health, mood, and brain-specific benefits that sunlight provides.
Natural light sets our biochemical rhythms, which control things like sleep, hormones, and brain function.
In fact, our circadian rhythms, vitamin D production, alertness, happiness, and ability to learn are all influenced by the amount of daily sunlight we get.
Spending more time outside exposing your skin and eyes to sunlight is good for your brain health regardless if you’re experiencing cognitive issues or not.
But getting more light may be especially helpful for folks who are the most likely to lose their memory, like Alzheimer’s patients.
Getting more natural light exposure is simple and free. Make it a priority to spend more time outdoors starting TODAY!
And for folks who have trouble getting outside, lamps that simulate natural sunlight exposure are an effective alternative.
P.S. What’s the RIGHT amount of sunshine? I tackle that precise question in THIS “Mailbag” edition of Living Well Daily.
Source:
Zang, L., et al., “The effect of light therapy on sleep disorders and psychobehavioral symptoms in patients with Alzheimer’s disease: A meta-analysis.” PLOS ONE, 2023, 18(12), e0293977. Doi .org /10.1371/journal.pone.0293977
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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