This project will produce a smart light system to improve the sleep quality of dementia patients. Disruption of circadian cycles in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) patients worsens in time. This leads to sleep problems, nocturnal wandering, and daytime irritability and manifests in a set of neuropsychiatric symptoms such as confusion, disorientation, anxiety, agitation, aggression, wandering and yelling. These increase the burden on caregivers both at homes and in institutional facilities. More than half a million people in Canada are diagnosed with dementia and we spend $10.4 billion annually for caring.

Typical lights at homes and care facilities are static and not tuned to activate the circadian cycles of older adults. We propose to develop Adaptive Lighting for Alzheimer and Dementia INtervention (ALADIN), a versatile light that addresses the lighting requirements for older adults. ALADIN is a wake-up lamp that doubles up as a daytime ambient lighting. This light will be auto colour temperature tuning, aligned with the sunlight pattern. This project will eliminate the existing multiple light sources that are manually adjusted throughout the day and provide a simplified design of a single lighting device, programmed to deliver the right type and level of light in time. Our team of technologists, clinicians and caregivers will work closely to ensure that the light addresses the needs of ADRD patients and is easily operable by them.

While the LED technology is very mature to create dynamic lighting, several questions related to user-centric design such as perception of light by aging adults, physiological effects, user control of lights, etc., will be addressed through the feedback of users. Successful development of lights will immediately help clinical researchers to embark on much needed, well-controlled long-term studies to target the ideal lights for dementia patients.