Excessive light pollution may increase risk of Alzheimer's, especially in younger people.

A study published in Frontiers in Neuroscience suggests that excessive light pollution at night may increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD), particularly in younger individuals. The researchers analyzed light pollution maps of the lower 48 US states and found a positive association between AD prevalence and exposure to light at night. For individuals aged 65 and older, AD prevalence was more strongly correlated with light pollution than other risk factors such as alcohol abuse and obesity. Younger individuals may be more vulnerable to the effects of light exposure at night due to individual differences in light sensitivity and lifestyle factors. The researchers recommend lifestyle changes such as using blackout curtains or sleeping with eye masks to reduce light exposure, as well as reducing blue light exposure inside the home. However, the study's results are based on a subset of the US population, and further research is needed to better understand the relationship between light pollution and AD. [Extracted from the article]