Excessive exposure to light pollution at night may increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease, US researchers say.
Today, more than 940,000 people in the UK suffer from Alzheimer's disease, and the number continues to grow, Women’s Health magazine reports.
The disease, which is a type of dementia, is associated with a steady deterioration in brain functioning. It leads to memory loss and can affect the way you feel, speak and behave.
The disease is particularly common in people over the age of 65. In fact, today in the UK 1 in 11 people aged 65 and over are living with dementia.
However new research shows that some younger people are also at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
According to a new study, light pollution at night may be an important risk factor to investigate in relation to Alzheimer's disease.
The study, published in Frontiers in Neuroscience, found that excessive exposure to light at night may increase the risk of the disease in people under the age of 65.
The study used satellite data to determine the average intensity of nighttime light in U.S. states from 2012-2018, and collected Medicare data to determine the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease in those states.
Comparing the two data sets, the researchers found that states with higher nighttime light pollution intensity were associated with Alzheimer's disease prevalence.
In addition, the researchers were able to say that in people who were 65 years of age and younger, the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease had a stronger association with light pollution at night than with other potential risk factors for the disease, such as kidney disease and obesity.
What does this mean?
It's a breakthrough in understanding new risk factors for the disease and who they affect. Previously, Alzheimer's risks have always been associated with people over 65. Now, however, younger demographic groups are also vulnerable.
Robin Voight-Zuwala, PhD, author of the study, said:
"Certain genotypes that influence the early onset of AD influence the response to biological stressors, which may explain the increased vulnerability to the effects of nighttime light exposure."
"In addition, younger people are more likely to live in urban areas and lead lifestyles that may increase light exposure at night," she added.
While these findings may cause concern, it's important to remember that this is a risk factor that can be modified. This means those at risk can reduce the amount of nighttime light exposure they receive. | BGNES
