Summary: A recent study found that older adults have the fewest attention issues when the temperature is maintained at home between 68 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit ( 20 to 24 C ). Beyond this selection, deviations increase the chance of attention lapses, which highlights how even the current climate can affect mental health. This danger is particularly high for seniors with low incomes who may not have the means to control the temperature inside.
The results highlight the need for climate-resilient cover procedures and public health initiatives to safeguard aging populations. As global temperatures rise, safeguarding exposure to temperature-controlled conditions may prevent mental decline. As strategic solutions, smart systems and more energy-efficient housing are suggested.
Important Information:
- Optimal Range: Attention performance was best at indoor temperatures of 68–75 ˚F ( 20–24 ˚C ).
- Cognitive Risk: A 7 ˚F ( 4 ˚C ) deviation doubled the likelihood of attention difficulties.
- Concerns about the culture: Due to limited access to heat control, older adults in underserved communities are at higher risk.
Origin: Hebrew SeniorLife Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research
A groundbreaking study has revealed a clear link between indoor temperatures and older adults ‘ mental performance, which may provide insight into how climate change does increase the risk to mental health.
The study, which was conducted by researchers at the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, the study arm of Hebrew SeniorLife, a nonprofit affiliate of Harvard Medical School, found that older people reported having the shortest difficulty paying attention when their home conditions were between 68 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit ( 20 to 24 degrees Celsius ).
Outside of this range, the likelihood of attention difficulties doubled with a 7 ˚F ( 4 ˚C ) variation in either direction.
Over the course of a season, the vertical observing study, titled” Home Ambient Temperature and Self-reported Interest in Community-Dwelling Older Grownups,” tracked home temperatures and self-reported interest issues in 47 adults over the age of 65 and older.
The studies, published in the , Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, suggest that perhaps current weather situations are placing older adults at risk, with some experiencing indoor temperatures that may affect their mental abilities.
The effects are particularly worrying for low-income and underrepresented populations, who may not have the resources to manage their household environments.
” Our results underscore the importance of understanding how environmental factors, like domestic heat, effects mental health in aging groups”, said , Amir Baniassadi, PhD, lead author of the study, an Assistant Scientist II at the Marcus Institute and a leading expert in the study of the effects of climate change on elders.
This study highlights the need for housing policies and public health programs that give older people a chance at surviving on climate change. As global temperatures rise, ensuring access to temperature-controlled environments will be crucial for protecting their cognitive well-being”.
Following a 2023 study that examined how temperature affected older people’s sleep patterns and their cognitive abilities, the study now adds growing evidence that the effects of climate change include cognitive functioning, highlighting the need for proactive measures.
Possible solutions include integrating smart home technologies to increase cooling resources, lowering energy consumption in homes, and reducing energy consumption.
Other researchers on the study, who all work at the Marcus Institute, included Wanting Yu, BSc, Project Director I, Thomas Travison, PhD, Senior Scientist, Ryan Day, Lewis Lipsitz, MD, Director, Marcus Institute and Chief Academic Officer, Irving and Edyth S. Usen and Family Chair in Medical Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, and Brad Manor, PhD, associate scientist.
Funding: The study was supported by a T32 fellowship through the U. S. National Institute on Aging ( T32AG023480 ) and from the TMCITY foundation.
About this news article on cognitive and aging.
Author: Michael Chmura
Source: Hebrew SeniorLife Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research
Contact: Michael Chmura – Hebrew SeniorLife Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access.
” Home Ambient Temperature and Self-reported Attention in Community-Dwelling Older Adults” by Amir Baniassadi et al. The Journals of Gerontology Series A
Abstract
Home Ambient Temperature and Self-reported Attention in Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Background
As aging adults become more intense and frequent periods of hot weather, global weather patterns are expected to change as a result. In contrast, lab-based studies have established a causal relationship between ambient temperature and cognitive abilities, suggesting that the anticipated rise in temperature may have an impact on older adults ‘ cognitive functioning.
Nevertheless, it is not clear whether, and to what extent, the temperature variations in older adults ‘ , own homes , – which unlike lab settings is under their control – influence their cognitive functioning. Our goal was to demonstrate the hypothesis that the home’s ambient temperature influences one’s ability to concentrate in older adults.
Methods
A cohort of community-dwelling older adults living in Boston, Massachusetts, who were continuously monitoring the home’s ambient temperature and self-reported difficulties keeping their attention for 12 months, we conducted a longitudinal observational study.
Participants
47 adults aged 65 and older.
Results
At the time of the assessment, we observed a U-shaped relationship between the home ambient temperature and the odds ratio ( OR ) of reporting difficulty keeping attention, such that the OR was lowest between 20 and 24 degrees Celsius and doubled when moving away from this range by 4 degrees Celsius in either direction.
Discussion
Our findings suggest that a significant portion of older adults experience indoor temperatures that impair their cognitive abilities even in the current climate. Climate change may make this issue worse, particularly among low-income and underserved older adults. This pressing issue needs to be addressed in housing and public health policies in order to improve climate resilience in this underserved population.
