Exposure to outdoor light at night may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD), as per a recent study in Frontiers in Neuroscience.
“In the U.S., we found a link between AD prevalence and night light exposure, especially in individuals under 65,” stated Dr. Robin Voigt-Zuwala, the lead author and an associate professor at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois.
“Light pollution at night, a changeable environmental factor, could be a significant risk for AD.”
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Common sources of artificial light include street lamps, vehicles, signs, office buildings, and illuminated structures.
Exposure to outdoor light at night may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease based on a recent study.
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According to the study, researchers assessed light pollution maps nationwide and ranked each state’s “nighttime intensity data” to analyze the levels of Alzheimer’s disease.
For individuals 65 and older, light pollution was a more significant risk factor compared to obesity, depression, alcohol abuse, and chronic kidney disease.
However, other risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke surpassed the risk of light pollution in that age group.
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Under 65, individuals seemed more sensitive to nighttime lighting exposure, increasing their risk of Alzheimer’s more than other factors.
“Certain genotypes influencing early-onset AD impact the response to biological stressors, leading to increased vulnerability to nighttime light exposure effects,” Voigt-Zuwala mentioned in the release.
Previous studies indicate a yearly 10% rise in light pollution, resulting in the night sky brightening up and reaching about 80% of the global population.
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Light pollution has been shown to disrupt circadian rhythms and reduce melatonin hormone production, leading to sleep disorders.
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Insufficient sleep is a known risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
An American Journal of Preventive Medicine study revealed that only five hours of sleep per night can raise dementia risk by 30% for those over 50.
Adults with sleep-related movement disorders have nearly four times higher dementia risk, according to the same study.
“Continuous light exposure disrupts circadian rhythms and limits the brain’s time in deeper, restorative sleep stages.”
Dr. Earnest Lee Murray, a board-certified neurologist at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital in Jackson, Tennessee, highlighted the impact of environmental factors on diseases like Alzheimer’s, emphasizing the detrimental effects of inadequate sleep on cognitive health later in life.
Researchers assessed light pollution maps nationwide and analyzed each state’s “nighttime intensity data” in correlation with Alzheimer’s levels.
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He further mentioned that perpetual light exposure from devices can result in cognitive issues later in life, reinforcing the need to limit nocturnal light exposure from cell phones and other gadgets.
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The researchers advocated for more studies on the connection between light pollution and Alzheimer’s.
Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers for comments.
