Spending regular time outdoors or in bright daylight may be linked to a lower risk of dementia, according to a new study by researchers in China.
The study is important because dementia is a growing global health concern, and researchers continue to examine how daily lifestyle patterns may affect brain health later in life. The findings suggest that people with very low daytime light exposure may face a higher dementia risk than those who spend more time in natural or bright outdoor light.
According to the study, people who spent less than about 42 minutes a day in bright daytime light had a comparatively higher risk of developing dementia. Researchers reported that exposure to daylight at levels similar to an overcast outdoor day was associated with a lower risk.
The research found that people exposed to moderate daytime light had up to a 16 percent lower risk of dementia. Higher levels of bright daylight exposure were also linked with further reductions in risk, according to reported findings.
Researchers said the possible benefits were not limited to sunny weather. Even cloudy outdoor conditions can provide stronger light exposure than typical indoor environments.
Experts said the link may be connected to the body’s circadian rhythm, often described as the internal biological clock. Daylight helps regulate sleep patterns and other body functions, which may affect long-term brain health.
However, researchers cautioned that the study shows an association, not direct proof that spending more time in sunlight prevents dementia. People with poorer health or early cognitive decline may also be less likely to go outside regularly, which could partly explain the findings.
Scientists said further research is needed to confirm how daylight exposure, sleep, physical activity and overall health interact in relation to dementia risk.
Previous research based on UK Biobank data also found a relationship between time spent in outdoor light and dementia risk, with the lowest risk observed around moderate daily exposure rather than extremely low or very high exposure.
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