Can Bright Light Help Beat the Post-lunch Dip in Alertness and Performance?

Recent research findings suggest that bright light exposure could be a potential strategy for those suffering from drowsiness and low productivity at midday due to an afternoon slump.

Timed Light Therapy Improves Blood Pressure Control and Glucose Tolerance in Rotating Night Shift Workers

In today’s day and age, our daily rhythms are more and more governed by technology and modern lifestyles rather than natural cycles of light and darkness. As a result, many of us work around the clock, often juggling irregular schedules, including nightshifts. With shift work, however, come various health risks, including sleep and mood disorders, all of which can be attributed to disrupted circadian rhythms.

Sleep Research Papers

Research shows how light therapy - particularly bright light - can be used to phase advance (shift earlier) or phase delay (postpone) the time of sleep and waking. This makes it useful for all sorts of sleep disorders such as those explored below.

Women's Health: Bright Light Therapy for Perinatal Depression

A recent King’s College London (2018) found that 1 in 4 pregnant women have mental health problems. Around 11% of the subjects were found to suffer from depression. According to an earlier study (1996), at least 13% of women face the debilitating effects of major depressive disorder while pregnant; one other paper (2005) suggests that 11–20% suffer from post‐partum depressive symptoms. Furthermore, rates of perinatal depression seem to be particularly high in women with a prior history of depression, with estimates ranging from 25% to 50%.

New Research Findings Support the Need for a Non-Alerting Light like Lumie Bedbug for Children at Bedtime

New research published in the academic journal Physiological Reports* shows that pre-school children are particularly sensitive to the stimulating effect of evening bright light. The findings support the need to use non-alerting lights like Lumie Bedbug at children’s bedtime.

Seasonal Affective Disorder Research Papers

There is now a huge amount of research to support light therapy as a treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This is just a selection and includes the benefits of light therapy as well as research into the possible mechanisms behind SAD.

Dawn Simulators vs Bright Lights for SAD

Dawn simulators - also called wake-up lights - have a valuable role to play in the treatment of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) according to the latest research led by medical researcher Dr Konstantin Danilenko. The research is published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.

Research Finds 'No Seasonal Difference in Depressive Symptoms'

You may have seen the news about research that claims there's a lack of evidence of any seasonal differences in depressive symptoms. The newspapers have been quick to pick up on this with simplistic ‘SAD doesn’t exist’ type headlines. But what's this new research really saying?

Lumie-sponsored Study: Evening Light Improves Morning Cycling Performance

Sports enthusiasts exposed to bright light in the evenings saw an average 7.2% improvement in their cycling performance the following morning.

Light Therapy For Early Birds and Night Owls

Recent research drew attention to the risks that night owls face, stating that “teenagers who go to bed late during the school year are more prone to academic and emotional difficulties in the long run, compared to their earlier-to-bed counterparts,”. Lumie sleep expert and chronobiologist at the world-leading Surrey Clinical Research Centre, Dr. Victoria Revell, has put together some advice on keeping your circadian rhythms on track, whether you're a night owl or an early bird.

Studies with Alzheimer's patients

The common thread in many research papers is that the organic progress of Alzheimer's disease results in damage to a part of the brain - the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) - that controls circadian rhythms.

Research Related to Women's Health