We are far from knowing the limits of light therapy, or the involvement of circadian timing in mental and physical illness. New exploratory applications give a sense of the broad range of possibilities, although the research needs extensive follow-up before we endorse or codify the intervention as a mainline strategy, or alternative to established medication regimens.
Exciting examples in the pipeline including light therapy for the cognitive and motor disabilities of Parkinson’s disease; the cognitive and sleep problems of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; rebalancing and stimulating sex hormone production in both men and women; counteracting the extreme fatigue associated with chemotherapy; and improving sleep and wellbeing in patients with personality disorders.
