Lights out!
Researchers say exposure to bright outdoor light at night may increase the chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease above other risk factors, especially in young people.
“In the United States, [Alzheimer’s] “Nighttime light exposure and prevalence, especially in people under 65 years of age.” Robin Voigt Zwara says:“Nocturnal light pollution is a modifiable environmental factor and may be an important risk factor,” said the associate professor at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.
The Voigt-Zwara team Light pollution map The study assessed the intensity of night-time lighting, including street lights, roadway lights and illuminated signs, and divided the lower 48 states into five groups based on the amount of light they provide at night, from least to most.
Artificial light at night can disrupt your body’s circadian clock and disrupt sleep, and lack of sleep or insomnia has been linked to impaired cognitive function.
In older adults, the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease was more strongly associated with light pollution than with other risk factors such as alcohol abuse, chronic kidney disease, depression, and obesity.
But in that age group, diabetes, high blood pressure and stroke were more likely to occur than light pollution.
For people under 65, high light intensity at night was more strongly associated with Alzheimer’s disease than any other risk factor examined in the study.
Researchers don’t know why young people are particularly sensitive to the effects of light at night.
They speculate that this could be due to their genetic makeup, or perhaps because they are more likely to live in urban areas and lead lifestyles that involve frequent exposure to outdoor light.
The study authors recommend using blackout curtains and eye masks to block harmful light.
Their findings were published Friday. The cutting edge of neuroscience.
The researchers didn’t study indoor light, but said blue light emitted from digital devices has the biggest impact on sleep.
They suggest using blue light filters, switching out light bulbs for warmer ones, and installing dimmers in your home.
Approximately 7 million Americans have been diagnosed with dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease being the most common form of the syndrome.
This new research follows recent studies which found that where you live may influence your chances of being diagnosed with dementia in terms of access to healthcare.
