Thoughtful lighting can help reduce evening confusion by supporting the body’s natural circadian rhythms and improving comfort during the transition from day to night. The circadian rhythm is the internal biological clock that regulates sleep-wake cycles and other physiological processes. When lighting is carefully designed to mimic natural light patterns, it can help maintain this rhythm, reducing confusion and disorientation that often occur in the evening, especially among older adults or people with cognitive impairments.
Bright, blue-enriched light exposure during the day has been shown to influence the body’s internal clock by suppressing the natural rise in skin temperature and shifting thermal sensations toward comfort. This effect helps align the body’s internal state with the external environment, promoting alertness during the day and better readiness for sleep at night. Conversely, dimmer, warmer lighting in the evening supports the natural winding down process, signaling the body to prepare for rest. This thoughtful adjustment of light intensity and color temperature can reduce feelings of confusion and agitation that sometimes happen in the evening hours, often called “sundowning” in dementia patients.
Moreover, exposure to inappropriate lighting at night, such as bright or blue light, can disrupt melatonin production, a hormone critical for sleep regulation. This disruption can lead to poor sleep quality and increased stress responses, which may worsen confusion and cognitive difficulties. By using lighting that respects the natural light-dark cycle—brighter and cooler during the day, dimmer and warmer in the evening—people can experience improved mood, better sleep, and reduced evening confusion.
In practical terms, this means using lighting systems that adjust automatically or manually to provide bright, blue-enriched light during daytime hours and switch to softer, warmer tones as evening approaches. Such lighting strategies are especially beneficial in environments like nursing homes, hospitals, or homes of people with dementia, where evening confusion is common.
Sources
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41188435/
https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a69289415/sleep-mask-heart-health-study/
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-22542-w
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2840489
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001388
https://amerisleep.com/blog/light-and-sleep/
