M. Cristina Nicolau

Prof. Dr. M. Cristina Nicolau

Laboratori de Neurofisiologia del Son i Ritmes Biològics, Institut d’Investigació Sanitária Illes Balears (IDISBA), Universitat Illes Balears, (UIB), 07122 Palma, Spain
orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

37Years (1990-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

View All Publications
1 December 2004 in Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
SESusana Esteban
Susana Esteban
M. Cristina NicolauM. Cristina Nicolau
M. Cristina Nicolau
AGAntonio Garmundi
Antonio Garmundi
RRRubén Víctor Rial
Rubén Víctor Rial
Ana RodriquezAna Rodriquez
Ana Rodriquez
CICarmen Barriga Ibars
Carmen Barriga Ibars

1 August 2007 in Sleep Medicine Reviews
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
RRRubén Víctor Rial
Rubén Víctor Rial
M. Cristina NicolauM. Cristina Nicolau
M. Cristina Nicolau
AGAntonio Gamundí
Antonio Gamundí
MGMourad Akaarir El ghourri
Mourad Akaarir El ghourri
SASara Aparicio
Sara Aparicio
SESusana Esteban
Susana Esteban

1 November 2000 in Progress in Neurobiology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
M. Cristina NicolauM. Cristina Nicolau
M. Cristina Nicolau
MGMourad Akaarir El ghourri
Mourad Akaarir El ghourri
AGA. Gamundı́
A. Gamundı́
JGJ. González
J. González
RRRubén Víctor Rial
Rubén Víctor Rial

1 July 2010 in Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
RRRubén Víctor Rial
Rubén Víctor Rial
MGMourad Akaarir El ghourri
Mourad Akaarir El ghourri
AGAntonio Gamundí
Antonio Gamundí
M. Cristina NicolauM. Cristina Nicolau
M. Cristina Nicolau
CGCelia Garau
Celia Garau
SESusana Esteban
Susana Esteban

1 March 1999 in Neuroscience Letters
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
Ernesto PeredaErnesto Pereda
Ernesto Pereda
AGAntonio Gamundí
Antonio Gamundí
M. Cristina NicolauM. Cristina Nicolau
M. Cristina Nicolau
RRR Rial
R Rial
JGJ González
J González

6 May 2020 in Frontiers in Neuroscience
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
JRJosé A. Rubiño
José A. Rubiño
AGAntonio Gamundí
Antonio Gamundí
MAMourad Akaarir
Mourad Akaarir
FCFrancesca Canellas
Francesca Canellas
RRRubén Víctor Rial
Rubén Víctor Rial
M. Cristina NicolauM. Cristina Nicolau
M. Cristina Nicolau
Background: Bright light therapy has been found to be an efficient method to improve the main parameters of circadian rhythms. However, institutionalized elders may suffer reduced exposure to diurnal light, which may impair their circadian rhythms, cognitive performance, and general health status. Objectives: To analyze the effects of 5 days of morning exposure for 90 min to bright light therapy (BLT) applied to institutionalized elderly subjects with mild/moderate cognitive impairment. Subjects: Thirty-seven institutionalized subjects of both sexes, aged 70–93 years. Methods: The study lasted three consecutive weeks. During the second week the subjects were submitted to BLT (7000–10,000 lux at eye level) on a daily basis. Cognition, attention, and sleep quality were evaluated at the beginning of the first and third week. Circadian variables were recorded continuously throughout the 3 weeks. Non-invasive holders and validated tests were used to analyze the variables studied. Results: After BLT we have found significant improvements in general cognitive capabilities, sleep quality and in the main parameters of the subject’s circadian rhythms. The results show that merely 90 min of BLT for five days seems to achieve a significant improvement in a constellation of circadian, sleep, health, and cognitive factors. Conclusion: Bright light therapy is an affordable, effective, fast-acting therapy for age-related disturbances, with many advantages over pharmacological alternatives. We hypothesize these effects were the result of activating the residual activity of their presumably weakened circadian system.