One in 20 people suffer from clinical depression in this country, and the rate is significantly higher among seniors. It’s higher still among senior women (women are twice as likely to be depressed as men). When you include the widespread prevalence of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) this time of year, it’s clear there’s big public health problem out there. New research findings in the Netherlands show that bright light therapy (BLT) may be part of the answer. Call it a lightbulb moment in the treatment of depression.

The details: The study of depression and light therapy involved 89 people aged 60 and over. Half received three weeks of one-hour-a-day BLT. For comparison, the others were “treated” with a pale, not therapeutically significant light for the same duration. Treatment sessions occurred in the early morning each day. At the end of three weeks, those receiving BLT experienced significant improvements in mood, sleep quality,  Continue reading →