Decreased sensitivity to phase-delaying effects of moderate intensity light in older subjects

Aging is associated with a change in the relationship between the timing of sleep and circadian rhythms, such that the rhythms occur later with respect to sleep than in younger adults. To investigate whether a difference in the phase-delaying response to evening light contributes to this, we conducted a 9-day inpatient study in 10 healthy older (≥65 y.o.) subjects. We assessed circadian phase in a constant routine, exposed each subject to a 6.5 h broad-spectrum light stimulus beginning in the early biological night, and reassessed circadian phase. The stimuli spanned a range from very dim (∼2 lx) to very bright (∼8000 lx) indoor light. We found a significant dose–response relationship between illuminance and the phase shift of the melatonin rhythm, with evidence that sensitivity, but not the maximal response to light, differed from that of younger adults. These findings suggest an age-related reduction in the phase-delaying response to moderate light levels. However, our findings alone do not explain the altered phase relationship between sleep and circadian rhythms associated with aging.