A ground-breaking study has found a significant relationship between indoor temperatures and cognitive performance in older adults, shedding light on how climate change may pose an increased risk to cognitive health.
The study conducted by scientists at the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute of Aging Research and the Harvard Medical School, US, suggests that older adults reported the least difficulty maintaining attention when their home temperatures were within 68-75˚F (20-24˚C).
The report was published in ‘The Journals of Gerontology Series A’ in December.
The study involved 47 adults aged 65 and older. The researchers continuously monitored the home ambient temperature and self-reported difficulty keeping attention for 12 months among the participants.
How The Study Was Conducted
- The study started in October 2021 and finished in March 2023
- The participants were on average 79 years old.
- About 80% of them were women, who are more likely to develop dementia.
- A sensor was installed in the room that the participants spent the most time in.
- The sensor monitored the room’s ambient temperature.
- Participants also filled out weekly questionnaires on their concentration levels.
Observational in nature, the study reinforces previous findings that older adults sleep best — a key factor in reducing dementia risk — when the room temperatures are between 20°C and 25°C.
Dr Amir Baniassadi, who led the study, is an instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and an assistant scientist at the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research. Dr Baniassadi works on climate change and environmental health, and, in particular, environmental impacts on health and well-being of older populations.
“Our findings show how environmental factors, like indoor temperature, can have a major impact on cognitive health, particularly in older adults,” said Dr Amir Baniassadi. “With global temperatures rising, ensuring access to climate-controlled environments is crucial to protect brain health,” he added.
The Optimum Range Of Temperature For Brain Health
Just a small shift in temperature — around 4°C, whether plus or minus — was enough to double the likelihood of attention problems, reports the study.
The science is simple: When elderly humans are put into colder homes, the body has to work harder to stay warm, causing blood vessels to constrict, which reduces blood flow to the brain, thus possibly increasing the risk of dementia. Excessive heat can lead to dehydration and disrupt sleep.
Excessive cold and hot ambient temperatures have both been linked to cognitive decline, the researchers found.
While the research is observational and doesn’t prove a direct cause-and-effect relationship, it adds to growing evidence suggesting that the right temperature is important for maintaining brain health.
The writer is a senior independent journalist.
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