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，这些疾病往往密切相关，造成巨大的残疾和经济损失。对这些经常是慢性病的现有治疗方法一直不能令人满意。老年人的抑郁症和抑郁症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已经开发了一种特殊的老年灯具（落地灯），以减少睡眠和情绪问题的老年人美国人。在第一阶段，在60岁以上的志愿者家中测试了3种不同亮度水平的研究原型。志愿者报告说，老年人的灯具减少失眠和抑郁症，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。在这个第二阶段STTR提案中，阿波罗照明系统公司将建造一个改进的高级灯具原型系列。新的原型将在60名老年志愿者中进行评估，以证明老年人灯具与安慰剂灯具相比的功效。该项目将证明，老年人的灯具减少失眠和改善情绪。将通过分析尿6-硫酸氧褪黑激素来证明改变高级昼夜节律的生物学功效。有一个潜在的市场，数以百万计的改进灯具，以改善美国老年人的生活。拟定商业应用：超过10，000，000的美国老年人有失眠或抑郁的症状，这些症状可能会被老年人灯具所减轻。潜在的市场表现为销售超过40，000，000卤素手电筒灯，考虑到老年人灯具提供7倍以上的光，不到25%的能源成本。这是一个上级的设计，可能会购买数千万美国家庭。

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.