How nighttime light from hot flashes affects thinking, mood, stress, and sleep in midlife women
Impact of Artificial Light at Night on Cognition, Stress, and Sleep in Midlife Women with Vasomotor Symptoms
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · NIH-11167094
This project looks at whether light caused by night sweats changes sleep, stress, mood, and thinking in midlife women with hot flashes.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BOSTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11167094 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would be asked to report hot flashes and wear sensors that measure nighttime light and sleep, while also completing brief mood and thinking tests. Researchers will link moments when night sweats cause light exposure to sleep breaks, stress signals, and changes in daily mood and cognition. The team combines wearable data, sleep measures, surveys, and cognitive tasks to understand how repeated night-time light exposure might affect brain health over time. If needed, some parts may be done remotely but local visits could be requested for certain tests.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are midlife women who regularly experience vasomotor symptoms (night sweats or hot flashes), especially those who notice disrupted sleep at night.
Not a fit: People without menopausal hot flashes, those whose sleep problems have other clear causes, or men and younger women are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to reduce night-time light exposure from hot flashes and improve sleep, mood, and long-term thinking health for midlife women.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research links poor midlife sleep to higher dementia risk and shows light can fragment sleep, but treating night-sweat–triggered light exposure as a chronic stressor is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
BOSTON, UNITED STATES
- BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL — BOSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: MAHON, PAMELA BELMONTE — BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
- Study coordinator: MAHON, PAMELA BELMONTE
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.