A new study shows that the temperature inside your home might have a bigger impact on your brain than you think—especially if you’re an older adult. As the climate gets warmer and more unpredictable, scientists are discovering that our brains, particularly in old age, may suffer when indoor temperatures are too hot or too cold.
Researchers from the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, which is part of Hebrew SeniorLife and connected with Harvard Medical School, have found a strong link between indoor temperatures and attention problems in older people.
Their study focused on adults aged 65 and older, and it showed that keeping the temperature between 68 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (or 20 to 24 degrees Celsius) helped people stay more focused. When the temperature moved outside of this range—either too warm or too chilly—people were twice as likely to have trouble paying attention.
The study lasted for a year and included 47 older adults living in their own homes. The researchers measured the temperature inside each person’s home and asked the participants how well they were able to focus. The results were clear: when indoor temperatures changed too much, attention and focus dropped.
This research is important because attention is one of the key parts of brain health. When someone finds it hard to concentrate, it can be a sign of other mental challenges to come, including memory loss. And because many older adults already have to deal with other health issues, making sure their indoor environment supports brain function is essential.
The findings were published in a scientific journal called The Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences. The lead author, Dr. Amir Baniassadi, explained that this research adds to growing evidence that older adults are especially sensitive to environmental changes like temperature. And with the world’s climate getting warmer, this is a serious issue that may affect millions of people.
The study also pointed out that people with fewer financial resources are at greater risk. Many low-income families, especially seniors, may not have good heating or air conditioning systems in their homes. They may also live in older buildings that are not well insulated.
This means they are more likely to live in places where indoor temperatures swing too much, putting them at greater risk for attention problems or other cognitive issues.
Experts involved in the study—including Dr. Lewis Lipsitz and Dr. Brad Manor—say that the solution isn’t just about personal comfort. It’s about public health. They believe this research should help guide housing policies and health care programs that support older people.
For example, building homes that stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, giving people access to energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, and using smart home devices to help control temperature can all make a big difference.
This study also adds to earlier research that looked at how temperature affects sleep and thinking skills in older people. While most people think about climate change in terms of physical dangers like floods or fires, this research reminds us that rising temperatures can also affect mental health, especially for those who are more vulnerable.
The bottom line is that stable indoor temperatures help older adults stay focused, and that might help protect their brains as they age. With climate change already impacting daily life, it’s more important than ever to take steps to make homes safer and healthier—especially for seniors.
For anyone interested in brain health, it’s worth exploring other research too. Studies show that chronic inflammation may speed up brain aging, while keeping vitamin D levels healthy might slow it down. Some forms of exercise and diets like the MIND diet have also been shown to help protect brain function and reduce the risk of dementia.
The full findings of this indoor temperature study can be found in The Journals of Gerontology, Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about how the Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and Omega-3 fats and carotenoid supplements could improve memory.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about antioxidants that could help reduce dementia risk, and higher magnesium intake could help benefit brain health.
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