Indoor Lighting and the Brain and Cognitive Health in Older Adults

What we are studying:

Whether the quality of indoor lighting can improve measures of brain and cognitive health in older adults.

Why it matters:

The population aged 60 years and older will double from 1 billion in 2019 to over 2 billion in 2050 (WHO Aging Statistics). Certain lifestyle behaviors can help people as they age to manage their health and quality of life and live as independently as possible. Staying mentally, physically, and socially active and engaging in proper sleep habits can potentially slow memory decline and lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias (Finch and Tanzi 1997; Dexter, 2020). Improved indoor lighting may help promote these lifestyle behaviors and improve the outcomes of aging.

Timeline:

• Study Planning: Early Jun. 2021 – End of Oct. 2022

• Study in Progress: Start of Nov. 2022 – Start of Jun. 2023