A study identified a relationship between indoor temperatures and cognitive performance in older adults, revealing that exposure to excessively high or low temperatures can double attention difficulties in certain age groups. The study involved 47 community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older, monitoring home temperatures and their self-reported ability to maintain attention throughout the day. The findings were published in The Journal of Gerontology: Series A.
The study discovered that older adults experienced the fewest attention difficulties when their home temperatures stayed between 68–75°F (20–24°C), which most effectively helps maintain attention at a high level. Outside of this optimal temperature range, the likelihood of attention difficulties doubled with a 7°F (4°C) variation in either direction, consistent with findings that attention decreased when rooms became too hot or too cold.
While both hot and cold conditions impaired attention, participants appeared particularly sensitive to cold temperatures. The study's findings revealed an asymmetry in how people react to temperature fluctuations. When participants reported feeling cold, they experienced greater cognitive difficulties over a wider range of actual temperatures compared to when they felt hot.
Participants completed smartphone questionnaires twice a day, reporting how hot they felt and their levels of attention. The research team used smart sensors placed in the participants' main living spaces for continuous monitoring of temperature and humidity levels. This research opened new ground by studying people in their natural home environment over a long period. Many previous studies examined the effects of temperature on cognition in controlled laboratory conditions.
Research suggests that as climate change brings more extreme temperatures, elderly individuals may face increased cognitive challenges unless their indoor environment is properly regulated.
"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 and an Assistant Scientist II at the Marcus Institute, according to SciTechDaily. "This research underscores the need for public health interventions and housing policies that prioritize climate resilience for older adults," added Baniassadi. "As global temperatures rise, ensuring access to temperature-controlled environments will be crucial for protecting their cognitive well-being," Baniassadi stated, necessitating upgrades to housing infrastructure and cost-effective temperature management solutions.
The implications of the study are particularly concerning for low-income and underserved populations, who may have fewer resources to regulate their home environments. In this context, specialists are calling for the development and implementation of technologies, such as smart homes, to maintain a comfortable temperature in living spaces, emphasizing the need for proactive measures to ensure a steady indoor environment for seniors.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq