Dementia Risk Could Be Reduced by Daytime Light Exposure
Summary
A study of nearly 90,000 adults found that spending more time in moderately bright daylight can lower the risk of developing dementia. The research showed that people exposed to more daytime light had a lower chance of dementia, while nighttime light made no difference.Key Facts
- Researchers in China tracked light exposure for over 87,000 adults aged around 62 years old for seven days.
- Participants were then followed for about 8 years to see who developed dementia.
- Daytime light exposure above 1,000 lux (brightness of an overcast day) reduced dementia risk by 16%.
- Exposure to very bright light (at least 5,000 lux) lowered dementia risk even more.
- Less than 0.7 hours of bright daytime light per day was a stronger dementia risk factor than six known risk factors.
- Nighttime light exposure had no significant effect on dementia risk.
- The protective effect of daytime light was strongest for people with high nighttime light exposure, evening activity patterns, or the APOE ε4 gene linked to Alzheimer’s.
- Daytime light may affect the brain through improving circadian rhythms and brain structure.
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