light pollution is, sadly,
everywhere these days.
In most big cities, it’s nearly impossible to fully escape the light of all the neon signs, billboards, flashing lights, street lamps, driving cars, and all the other interior and exterior light sources.
When you look at the night sky, all you see is the “skyglow”, or the “yellow halo” in the sky which “when too much light shines up into the atmosphere” and the light is “scattered and reflected back down to the ground”.
In your bedroom, you may find it hard to sleep because of the outside lights (street lights, car lights, etc.) seeping into your home.
All of this light pollution can damage your eyes—but, according to a new study, it may also accelerate cognitive decline and even be linked to Alzheimer’s!
A study out of Rush University Medical Center looked at how light pollution might be connected to neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. Researchers analyzed data from light pollution maps of the 48 lower U.S. states, and compared them to medical data that gave insight into how the pollution could contribute to Alzheimer’s.
In all five groups of patients studied, there was a correlation between light intensity and Alzheimer’s disease. What’s fascinating is that the correlation was present even when
none of the other established Alzheimer’s risk factors were present.
According to the data, light pollution was more strongly associated with Alzheimer’s disease than obesity, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, alcohol abuse, and depression. While it wasn’t as strongly associated as other more common causes—including stroke, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and hypertension—the fact that it ranked higher than even a
few of the other causes is definitely reason for concern.
What’s more, nighttime light exposure was shown to be a significant risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease in those under the age of 65. In fact, according to the study, it was more strongly associated “than any other disease factor examined.”
This is just the first study looking at this connection, and further research is needed to investigate exactly how and why it happens.
But the fact that there is a correlation between the two is
certainly reason enough for you to get proactive and endeavour to reduce your exposure to light pollution whenever and wherever possible.
To do that:
- Turn off indoor lights when not in use. It’s not just a great way to save electricity; it also reduces the amount of light needlessly emitted from your house.
- Keep your curtains, blinds, and drapes closed at night. This will keep your indoor light from leaking out, and any outdoor light from leaking in.
- Sleep with a mask. A sleep mask won’t stop the light pollution from getting into your home, but will keep it from getting into your eyes. Blocking the light pollution (especially at night) will reduce eye strain, prevent the retinal degeneration common with high levels of light pollution, and protect against cognitive decline.
- Reduce nighttime driving. The more headlights there are out on the road, the greater the amount of nighttime light pollution. Try to limit your nighttime driving whenever possible. It’s better for your eyes as well as the environment.
- Switch your devices to “nighttime mode”. Most electronics—from TVs to computers, tablets to smartphone—have a low-light nighttime mode that A) is better for your eyes, and B) emits less light to pollute your environment.
- Make sure all your lights point downward. Any outdoor spotlights, floodlights, or lamps should be pointed down toward the ground. That way, less light is directed upward to cause pollution.
Combatting light pollution is a great way to protect your eyes against deterioration, but according to this latest study, it’s also crucial for reducing your Alzheimer’s risk. Be aware of the dangers of light pollution to your brain and start taking steps to curb and prevent it today!
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