NIH Grant Funds Smart Lighting Study for Dementia Patients in Pennsylvania Nursing Homes
Penn State researchers have secured a $3.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to investigate the effectiveness of a smart lighting system, SmartEnLite, in improving sleep and behavioral symptoms among nursing home residents with dementia. The study, funded by the National Institute on Aging, will span five years and build upon previous pilot research. SmartEnLite, developed by Ying-Ling Jao and Julian Wang, utilizes tunable LED lighting, photosensors, and automated controls to deliver circadian-stimulating light during the day and dimmer light at night. This system automatically adjusts to natural daylight variations, aiming to support the body's 24-hour internal clock, which is often disrupted in dementia patients due to insufficient daylight exposure in nursing home settings. Disruptions to circadian rhythms can exacerbate sleep problems and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, such as agitation, depression, and apathy, affecting up to 90% of individuals with the con...
