A new study has found a strong connection between spending time outside during the day and reducing the risk of developing dementia later in life. Researchers analyzed data from 87,577 adults who wore devices on their wrists to track light exposure over an eight-year period. The results showed that those with higher levels of daytime light exposure had a significantly lower risk of developing dementia.
On average, individuals who experienced bright daylight during the day (over 1,000 lux) had a 16% reduced risk of dementia compared to those with lower levels of exposure. Even longer periods in brighter environments (above 5,000 lux) offered additional protection against cognitive decline.
In contrast, nighttime light showed no significant association with dementia risk. However, getting less than 42 minutes of bright daytime light per day was a stronger predictor of future dementia than six established clinical risk factors. This suggests that simple lack of daily environmental bright light could be a crucial factor in preventing cognitive decline.
The study’s findings highlight the importance of environmental light optimization as a non-pharmacological strategy for dementia prevention. Researchers say that this approach is highly accessible and warrants further exploration for potential benefits in screening and interventions.
Source: https://neurosciencenews.com/daytime-light-exposure-dementia-risk-30950