No medicine, no cost: AIIMS study finds this 30-minute, simple therapy can boost stroke recovery, sleep, and mood

At a time when India is facing a burden of stroke-related disability and deaths, a new study from AIIMS New Delhi has come has a ray of hope, suggesting that one simple daily step, followed with a routine, could help in stroke recovery. The study suggests that if stroke patients spend 30 minutes in the sun daily, it could help them recover better and improve their quality of life, thus becoming a valuable addition to post-stroke care. This is a simple, cost-effective option that could support rehabilitation, the study presented at the institute's fifth Research Day says.

Sunlight therapy for stroke recovery patients

The AIIMS study, conducted between November 2023 and April 2025, found that patients who were under sunlight therapy showed improvement in their quality of life post stroke compared to those given standard care alone. The study was conducted on adult patients aged between 18 and 80 years who had suffered a moderate stroke within the previous month. Doctors also notice improvements in sleep and mood with no serious side effects, reports Times of India's Anuja Jaiswal.

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From Zerodha’s Nithin Kamath to actor Mithun Chakraborty, many eminent personalities suffered stroke in recent years. India recorded an estimated 1.25 million new stroke cases in 2021 and about 9.4 million people were living with the long-term effects of stroke, according to Global Burden of Disease estimates published in leading medical journals. A Lancet study done in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in 2023 found that brain strokes could lead to 10 million deaths in low and middle-income countries by 2050 and India is no exception to that. ICMR data from 2021 shows that stroke is the third leading cause of death and sixth leading cause of disability in India.

Since stroke recovery is slow, demanding and needs prolonged therapy that many patients cannot afford to or access, a 30-minute sunlight therapy, alongside routine treatment, is a simple and low-cost method and can significantly improve stroke patients' quality of life, sleep, and mood.

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How was study conducted?

Doctors at AIIMS examined whether natural sunlight exposure, when added to standard post-stroke care, could safely aid recovery, and the results were promising. The researchers screened over 200 patients out of which 40 were selected and divided into two groups. While one group received standard medical treatment and rehabilitation, while the other received the same care along with 30 minutes of controlled sunlight exposure on alternate days for about two weeks.

The sunlight intensity, measured at 10,000–25,000 lux—comparable to mild outdoor daylight—was carefully monitored using a lux meter to ensure safety. Patients were monitored for three months to assess how well they were managing daily activities, mobility, mood, sleep, and overall well-being. According to the researchers, sunlight may aid recovery by regulating sleep cycles, boosting vitamin D levels, and reducing inflammation, all of which play a crucial role in post-stroke healing.

While the study included a small sample size and was carried out at a single centre, doctors said the results are significant as sunlight is free, safe and easily accessible. If validated through larger studies, the approach could be especially beneficial for patients recovering at home or in regions with limited access to rehabilitation facilities.

(With TOI inputs)