Bad bedtime habit millions are guilty of increases your risk of Alzheimer’s – especially if you’re under 65
Research shows that leaving your blinds open at night increases your risk of Alzheimer’s.
Researchers in Chicago analyzed maps of excessive light exposure, also known as light pollution, in 48 states.
The team then divided the participants into five groups, ranging from lowest to highest nighttime light intensity.
The analysis found that the presence of more outdoor lighting at night, such as from streetlights and neon signs, was associated with a higher prevalence of Alzheimer’s than any other risk factor in people under 65.
And for those elderly people, the light pollution at night seemed have a greater influence on the development of Alzheimer’s than alcohol abuse, depression and obesity.
Too much exposure to outdoor light at night, such as city lights shining through your window, may increase your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study
According to researchers at Rush University Medical Center, this could mean that younger people are particularly sensitive to the effects of evening light exposure.
It’s unclear why younger people might be more vulnerable, but it could have to do with individual differences in light sensitivity, they add.
Dr Robin Voigt-Zuwala, first author of the study, said: ‘We show that in the US there is a positive association between the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and evening light exposure, particularly in people under 65 years of age.
‘Night-time light pollution – a modifiable environmental factor – may be an important risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.’
The researchers hope their findings can help inform people about the potential risks of light at night.
“Awareness of the association should enable people – especially those with risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease – to easily make changes to their lifestyle,” added Dr. Voigt-Zuwala.
‘Easy changes to implement include using blackout curtains or sleeping with eye masks. This is especially helpful for people who live in areas with high light pollution.’
The team added that indoor light exposure may be just as important as outdoor light exposure.
Although they did not investigate the effects of indoor lighting in the current study, they said that blue light has the greatest impact on sleep. However, using blue light filters, switching to warm lighting, and installing dimmers in the home could effectively reduce light exposure.
The study is one of many health effects of light pollution, including irritating skin conditions from exposure to UV radiation and an increased risk of certain types of cancer.
A 2021 reviewfor example, found that excessive exposure to light at night increased the risk of breast cancer by 10 to 14 percent, because it suppresses the production of melatonin. Interrupted melatonin production has been called a carcinogen, especially for hormone-dependent breast cancers.
The new findings were published Friday in the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience.