Did you know that the temperature inside your home could affect how well your brain works as you age?
A study from Harvard Medical School and the Marcus Institute for Aging Research has found that older adults may find it harder to focus when their homes are too hot or too cold. This discovery is especially important as the world continues to warm due to climate change.
The study looked at 47 people aged 65 and older and followed them for a whole year. The researchers kept track of the temperatures inside their homes and asked them regularly about their ability to pay attention.
The people reported the fewest problems focusing when their indoor temperature stayed between 68 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (or 20 to 24 degrees Celsius). But when it got hotter or colder than that range, their chances of having trouble focusing doubled with just a 7-degree change in either direction.
This means that even small shifts in indoor temperature can make it harder for older people to concentrate. And it’s not just a problem for those few in the study. Many older adults already live in homes that are too hot in the summer or too cold in the winter, especially if they can’t afford good heating or air conditioning. That puts their brain health at risk.
The study’s lead author, Dr. Amir Baniassadi, explains that as the Earth’s temperature rises, we need to think more seriously about how climate affects our minds, not just our bodies. Making sure older people can live in homes with steady, comfortable temperatures could be one way to protect their mental sharpness as they age.
This isn’t the first time scientists have looked into how temperature affects health. Previous research showed that hot or cold nights can affect how well older adults sleep. And we already know that sleep and brain function are closely connected.
But this new study goes a step further by showing that room temperature during the day can affect how well older people stay focused.
Experts say we need to take action in many ways. One solution is to make homes more energy-efficient so they stay warmer in winter and cooler in summer without using too much power.
Governments could also create housing policies that make sure older people have access to homes that can handle extreme weather. Smart home technology could help too, by automatically adjusting the indoor temperature to keep things comfortable.
This study is also a reminder that people with fewer resources are more at risk. Low-income families may not have the money to keep their homes at a safe and steady temperature. That means they are more likely to suffer the mental effects of extreme heat or cold.
Dr. Lewis Lipsitz and Dr. Brad Manor, two other scientists involved in the research, say that this study adds to the growing list of ways climate change is affecting our health. It’s not just about heatstroke or breathing problems anymore—now we’re seeing how it affects the brain too.
In the end, keeping our homes at a safe and comfortable temperature might be more important than we thought, especially for older people. As climate change continues to create more extreme weather, protecting brain health may depend on something as simple as adjusting the thermostat.
If you care about dementia, please read studies that eating apples and tea could keep dementia at bay, and Olive oil: a daily dose for better brain health.
For more health information, please see recent studies what you eat together may affect your dementia risk, and time-restricted eating: a simple way to fight aging and cancer.
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