LUMINAIRE FOR SLEEP AND MOOD DISORDERS OF AGING

大多数美国老年人都受到失眠或轻度抑郁症的困扰，这两种症状往往紧密交织在一起，造成了巨大的残疾和经济损失。对这些通常是慢性疾病的现有治疗方法并不令人满意。老年人的失眠和抑郁可能部分是由于昼夜节律不同步，可以通过改善照明来预防。阿波罗照明系统公司开发了一种特殊的老年人灯具（落地灯），以减少美国老年人的睡眠和情绪问题。在第一阶段，研究人员在60岁以上的志愿者家中测试了3种不同亮度的原型灯。志愿者报告说，老年人的灯具减少了失眠和抑郁，并希望继续使用它们。第一阶段原型的接受度和有效性非常令人鼓舞。在第二阶段STTR提案中，阿波罗照明系统公司将构建一系列改进的高级灯具原型。新的原型将在60名老年志愿者中进行评估，以证明老年灯具与安慰剂灯具的效果。该项目将证明老年人的灯具可以减少失眠，改善情绪。改变高级昼夜节律的生物学功效将通过分析尿6-硫氧褪黑素来证明。数以百万计的改进灯具有一个潜在的市场，可以改善美国老年人的生活。拟议的商业应用：超过1000万的美国老年人有失眠或抑郁的症状，老年人灯具可能会减轻这些症状。考虑到老年人灯具以不到25%的能源成本提供7倍的照明，潜在的市场销售超过4000万盏卤素手电筒就证明了这一点。这是一种卓越的设计，可能会被数千万美国家庭购买。

Most older Americans are troubled by insomnia or low-level depression, which are often intimately intertwined, causing enormous disability and economic loss. Available treatment methods for these often-chronic conditions have been unsatisfactory. Insomnia and depression in the elderly may be partly due to circadian rhythm malsynchronization preventable by improved lighting. Apollo Light Systems, Inc. has developed a special Senior's Luminaire (a floor lamp) to reduce sleep and mood problems of aging Americans. In Phase I, investigational prototypes at 3 different brightness levels were tested in the homes of volunteers over age 60 years. Volunteers reported the Senior's Luminaires reduced insomnia and depression, and wanted to continue using them. Acceptance and efficacy of the Phase I prototypes was remarkably encouraging. In this Phase II STTR proposal, Apollo Light Systems will construct an improved series of Senior's Luminaire prototypes. New prototypes will be evaluated in 60 aging volunteers to demonstrate the efficacy of the Senior's Luminaire contrasted with placebo luminaires. The project will demonstrate that the Senior's Luminaire reduces insomnia and improves mood. Biological efficacy for shifting advanced circadian rhythms will be demonstrated by analyzing urinary 6-sulphatoxymelatonin. There is a potential market for millions of improved luminaires to improve the lives of aging Americans. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: Over 10,000,000 aging Americans have symptoms of insomnia or depression which might be reduced by the Seniors' Luminaire. The potential market is demonstrated by sale of over 40,000,000 halogen torchiere lamps, considering that the Seniors' Luminaire provides 7 times more light with less than 25% the energy cost. It is a superior design which might be purchased for tens of millions of American homes.