The Effects of Lighting on Health

November is National Family Caregivers Month, and it seems fitting for us to discuss how light affects our health, particularly patients with Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. 

Recently I took a family member to the doctor and was shocked with the diagnosis—Parkinson’s Disease. Parkinson’s is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder afflicting American adults, behind Alzheimer’s disease.

As a caregiver having had experience with a loved one with Alzheimer’s, and now one with Parkinson’s, I read with great interest the article from the Light and Health Research Center at Mount Sinai (LHRC). They state a basic premise that ”brighter days + darker nights = better quality of life.” If you’re a caregiver, or you design for the healthcare industry, please read this informative article below. And kudos to the caregivers! We’d love to hear from you.

Article by Mariana G. Figeiro and David Pedler of the LHRC:

Bright Days and Dark Nights for Parkinson's Disease Patients - US Lighting Trends

I mentioned above that this article comes from the Light and Health Research Center at Mount Sinai. DHS Lighting Design is experienced in healthcare lighting design and is certified in lighting and health from LHRC. To understand more of what we do, go to www.dhslightingdesign.com/what-we-do. 

Do you have a caregiver story? We’d love to hear from you at shine@dhslightingdesign.com