Gaby
Excessive urban light pollution from streetlights and neon signs may raise the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, especially in people under 65.
A team at a university medical center analyzed how light pollution affects Alzheimer’s prevalence across 48 U.S. states. They used light intensity (brightness) as the main measure, according to the Daily Mail.
The researchers compared the collected data with information on people’s cognitive health from medical records. They controlled for blood pressure, alcohol abuse, depression, and obesity — established risk factors for Alzheimer’s.
The analysis found that heavy street lighting at night was associated with higher Alzheimer’s prevalence.
The team found that, for people under 65, excessive light pollution was linked to a greater likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s than any other factor they examined. That suggests younger adults may be especially sensitive to nighttime light exposure.
Dr. Robin Foigt-Zuwala, the study’s lead author, said, “Nighttime light pollution—a modifiable environmental factor—could be an important risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.”
Foigt-Zuwala said the findings should encourage people to make “simple lifestyle changes,” like installing blackout curtains or using sleep masks.
The study was published in Frontiers in Neuroscience.
