Sunlight could be crucial to preventing dementia, study finds
Getting enough sunlight could be crucial in preventing dementia, a study has found.
People who spend, on average, less than 42 minutes outside every day are significantly more likely to develop the incurable brain disease, according to Chinese researchers.
They also found that the longer people spend outside on a daily basis, the lower their risk.
According to the study, published in the journal General Psychiatry, scientists concluded the benefits could be achieved on cloudy days too.
Just being outdoors regularly in overcast conditions could lower the risk of dementia later in life by up to 16 per cent.
Experts say it is unclear why people who get plenty of sunlight are less likely to develop dementia.
Some argue that the new findings simply reflect the fact that people who are already in poor health – and at a greater risk of developing dementia – are less likely to leave the house.
But others claim that sunlight is crucial for regulating the body’s circadian rhythm – an internal process that boosts sleep and helps rid the body of toxic cells.
A study has found that sunlight could be crucial to preventing dementia. Pictured: An elderly couple walking along a beach at sunrise (File image)
There are nearly a million people living with dementia in the UK – and figures are expected to rise
in the coming decades due to the ageing population. The condition, which cannot be cured, kills more than 75,000 every year.
Growing research suggests that lifestyle changes can lower the chances of developing dementia.
These include regular exercise and socialising, as well as keeping blood pressure, weight and cholesterol levels under control.
There is even research that shows that wearing glasses or a hearing aid, if needed, can reduce the risk.
The new research could potentially see sunlight exposure added to the growing list of anti-dementia lifestyle changes.
The researchers monitored the day and night-time light exposure in 87,000 adults. Over eight years, 741 developed dementia.
The scientists found those who got dementia got markedly less daily sunlight.
Dr Hongliang Feng at Guangzhou Medical University said: ‘Daytime light exposure may serve as a [new] indicatorof dementia risk.’
