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Session Schedule

Find a specific presentation in the course by navigating to the timestamp indicated below.

0:00:00
Introduction

0:01:10
Light exposure and neuropathology in schizophrenia
Yuichi Esaki (Japan)

0:18:10
Real world light exposure patterns and mental health
Sean Cain (Australia)

0:39:17
Alterations of Melanopsin-mediated Pupillary Response in Patients with REM Sleep Behavior Disorder and Parkinson's Disease
Joey Chan (Hong Kong)

0:58:45
Light, circadian rhythm, and neuropsychiatric diseases
Jihui Zhang (China)

1:15:02
Question and answer

Summary

Overview
As we navigate the complexities of modern life, the importance of understanding how light influences our biological systems cannot be overstated. Light exposure plays a pivotal role in regulating circadian rhythms and other non-image forming effects such as mood regulation and learning, which are essential for maintaining our physical and mental health. Disruptions in these rhythms can lead to various health issues, including sleep disorders, mood disturbances, and cognitive impairments. This symposium aims to illuminate these connections, offering attendees the latest insights and research findings in the field.

Scientific Content
This session will explore the rapidly evolving landscape of the impact of light exposure on neuropsychiatric disorders, emphasizing their potential to address critical gaps in current practices. Through presentations by leading experts, attendees will gain insights into the association of light with circadian rhythms, sleep, and neuropsychiatric outcomes.

The session will begin with a presentation by Dr. Yuichi Esaki from the University of Fujita, Japan, who will report findings from a longitudinal study examining the relationship between light exposure in daily life and various symptoms in individuals with schizophrenia, including sleep disturbances, mood issues, and cognitive functions. Dr. Esaki's research indicates that variations in light exposure significantly correlate with symptom severity, suggesting that optimizing light conditions could be a therapeutic avenue for managing schizophrenia symptoms.

Next, Professor Sean Cain from Flinders University, Australia, will discuss his research on the impact of light on mental health. His work demonstrates the relationship between real-world light exposure patterns and mental health, as well as the promise of improving these patterns as a simple and cost-effective intervention. He will also present research on some of the cognitive elements that may underlie behaviors toward light, which likely contribute to poor light exposure patterns.

Dr. Joey Chan from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, will discuss the post-illumination pupillary response, a proxy of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) function, and its association with age-related circadian changes and alterations across the spectrum of alpha-synucleinopathy. Her work suggests that reduced retinal light sensitivity could impair photic input to the circadian clock, contributing to age-related circadian disruptions. Dr. Chan will discuss on the potential use of PIPR as an individual marker for circadian disruptions and neurodegeneration.

The final presentation will be delivered by Dr. Jihui Zhang from Guangzhou Medical University, China. Dr. Zhang will present his findings on how circadian rest-activity rhythms (CRAR) are associated with dementia, cognitive dysfunction, and brain structure, utilizing accelerometer data from over 57,500 participants from the UK Biobank. The study found that circadian parameters were associated with dementia risk and brain structure abnormalities. Dr. Zhang will discuss about the potential interventions of maintaining healthy CRAR patterns to reduce dementia risk, particularly in older adults.