A new study has revealed that people living in states like North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Ohio, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana are at an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
The researchers ranked the states based on their nighttime light pollution, which they identified as a new factor that increases our vulnerability to Alzheimer’s disease.
On the other hand, residents of Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, South Dakota, Vermont, and Maine are least exposed to nighttime light pollution, which reduces their chances of developing this disease.
Robin Voigt-Zuwala, the lead author of this study, said that light pollution is generally responsible for disrupting the quality of life as it can destroy cognitive health and disturb the circadian rhythm.
Voigt-Zuwala further noted that an abnormal circadian rhythm can contribute to dysfunction in the intestinal microbiome, which may lead to neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s disease. The researcher, however, revealed that they still need to do more testing to prove this hypothesis.
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects memory, thinking, and behavior patterns. It is the most common cause of dementia, a group of brain disorders that result in the loss of intellectual and social skills. Usually, Alzheimer’s begins with mild memory loss and gradually worsens over time, leading to severe cognitive impairment and the inability to carry out basic daily life activities.
Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, and doctors aim to manage its symptoms with medications to help affected individuals maintain their quality of life for as long as possible.
People under 65 years of age are more vulnerable to light pollution and, hence, Alzheimer’s disease, the study added.
The researchers are still investigating further links between light pollution and its potential to cause neurodegeneration, which makes the findings inconclusive.
However, they are still advising people, particularly those living in urban areas, to reduce their exposure to light pollution. Voigt-Zuwala recommends that people use dimmable lighting instead of LED bulbs or tube lights, which emit high levels of blue light. While using mobile phones, TVs, and tablets, everyone should consider using blue light filters or wearing glasses specifically designed to block blue light, Voigt-Zuwala added.
Since light pollution can also come from outdoor sources, Voigt-Zuwala recommends wearing blackout curtains or black shades. He added that everyone should adopt the best strategies to reduce their exposure to bright light during nighttime.
The researcher also suggested that implementing simple techniques to avoid light pollution is a worthwhile investment, as it could prevent potential health issues later in life.
A separate study has previously found that nighttime light pollution could harm the visual processing capabilities of spiders.
