Summary: A new study reveals that older adults experience the least attention difficulties when home temperatures remain between 68–75 ˚F (20–24 ˚C). Deviations beyond this range double the risk of attention lapses, highlighting how even current climate conditions may harm cognitive health. This risk is especially pronounced for low-income seniors who may lack the means to regulate indoor temperatures.
The findings emphasize the need for climate-resilient housing policies and public health interventions to protect aging populations. As global temperatures rise, safeguarding access to temperature-controlled environments could prevent cognitive decline. Smart technologies and improved energy-efficient housing are proposed as proactive solutions.
Key Facts:
- 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.
- Climate Concerns: Older adults in underserved communities face higher risks due to limited access to temperature control.
Source: Hebrew SeniorLife Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research
A groundbreaking study has identified a significant relationship between indoor temperatures and cognitive performance in older adults, shedding light on how climate change may pose an increased risk to cognitive health.
Conducted by scientists at the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, the research arm of Hebrew SeniorLife, a nonprofit affiliate of Harvard Medical School, the study found that older adults reported the least difficulty maintaining attention when their home temperatures were within 68–75 ˚F (20–24 ˚C).
Outside of this range, the likelihood of attention difficulties doubled with a 7 ˚F (4 ˚C) variation in either direction.
The longitudinal observational study, entitled “Home Ambient Temperature and Self-reported Attention in Community-Dwelling Older Adults,” monitored home temperatures and self-reported attention difficulties in 47 adults aged 65 and older over the course of a year.
The findings, published in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, suggest that even current climate conditions are placing older adults at risk, with many experiencing indoor temperatures that may impair their cognitive abilities.
The implications are particularly concerning for low-income and underserved populations, who may have fewer resources to regulate their home environments.
“Our findings underscore the importance of understanding how environmental factors, like indoor temperature, impact cognitive health in aging populations,” 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 seniors.
“This research highlights the need for public health interventions and housing policies that prioritize climate resilience for older adults. As global temperatures rise, ensuring access to temperature-controlled environments will be crucial for protecting their cognitive well-being.”
Following a 2023 study measuring how temperature affected how older adults slept and their cognitive ability, the study currently adds to growing evidence that the effects of climate change extend beyond physical health to encompass cognitive functioning, emphasizing the need for proactive measures.
Potential solutions include integrating smart home technologies to optimize indoor temperatures, improving energy efficiency in housing, and expanding access to cooling resources.
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 aging and cognition research news
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
Climate change is expected to disrupt weather patterns across the world, exposing older adults to more intense and frequent periods of hot weather. Meanwhile, lab-based studies have established a causal relationship between ambient temperature and cognitive abilities, suggesting the expected rise in temperature may influence 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 objective was to provide proof-of-concept that home ambient temperature influences self-reported ability to maintain attention in older adults.
Methods
We conducted a longitudinal observational study; continuously monitoring the home ambient temperature and self-reported difficulty keeping attention for 12 months in a cohort of community-dwelling older adults living in Boston, MA.
Participants
47 adults aged 65 and older.
Results
We observed a U-shaped relationship between home ambient temperature at the time of assessment and the odds ratio (OR) of reporting difficulty keeping attention such that the OR was lowest between 20 – 24 ˚C and doubled when moving away from this range by 4 ˚C in either direction.
Discussion
Our results suggest that even under the current climate a considerable portion of older adults encounter indoor temperatures detrimental to their cognitive abilities. Climate change may exacerbate this problem, particularly among low-income and underserved older adults. Addressing this issue in public health and housing policy is essential to building climate-resiliency in this vulnerable population.
