Boosting indoor light could help support healthy aging in older adults in urban areas

A new study from the University of Surrey, part of the Europe-wide ENLIGHTENme project, has found that bright light therapy lamps can improve sleep, activity levels, and circadian rhythms among older adults in urban areas with diminished exposure to natural light. The study, which recruited over 200 participants aged 63-92 from three culturally diverse European cities, demonstrated that these lamps could provide a nonpharmacological, low-cost way to support healthy aging in urban areas.

The researchers believe that exposure to daytime light is crucial for regulating our circadian rhythms and sleeping patterns, but older adults in urban areas often do not get sufficient light exposure due to declining eyesight or mobility issues. The study found that participants with higher baseline natural light exposure showed significantly higher daytime activity levels, more consolidated wakefulness during the day, and better reported sleep quality than those with lower light exposure.

Brief written by urgent.news from Medical Xpress's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.