Adjusting the thermostat can make a difference in how the brain works for older people.
In a year-long study published in The Journal Of Gerontology, researchers at the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research tracked nursing home temperatures and how well they were able to focus.
They were able to determine the ideal temperature range, down to just a few degrees, in which older adults were able to concentrate.
To find the optimal number, the researchers monitored 47 adults over 65 living in community housing.
The team tracked participants’ home temperatures and self-reported concentration ability through twice-daily smartphone surveys. These surveys asked participants to rate their thermal comfort from “too cold” to “too hot” and to report whether they were experiencing difficulty focusing.
The results showed a clear relationship between attention span and temperature; focus was optimal within a specific range and dropped significantly when home environments were too hot or cold.
The optimal range for cognitive functioning was shown to be between 68-75°F. When temperatures ranged 7 degrees above or below this range, study participants were twice as likely to report difficulty focusing.
These results build on previous research, which found that sleep is more efficient and restful for older adults when nighttime ambient temperatures range from 68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
While extremes in both heat and cold hindered the participants’ ability to focus, the population was shown to be more sensitive to cold temperatures. When participants reported feeling cold, they showed more significant cognitive impairment than when they felt hot, suggesting that warmth may be critical in supporting brain health in older populations during the winter months.
Researchers note that the relationship between climate and mental processing changes as we age and the body becomes less able to regulate temperature. One reason is that fat insulates the body and we lose it as we age; Thus, older people are more likely to report feeling cold than younger people.
While the group was relatively small, they were closely monitored. With an average age of 79, participants completed over 17,000 surveys during the study period. Most participants lived in private, non-subsidized housing, indicating that they had some control over the temperature of their home environments.
However, even among this relatively advantaged population, the cognitive impacts of temperature change were felt, suggesting that more compromised communities are at even greater risk.
Researchers are increasingly concerned that seniors living on fixed incomes may struggle to maintain the aforementioned temperature for cognitive functioning, especially during extreme heat or cold.
“Our findings underscore the importance of understanding how environmental factors, such as indoor temperature, affect cognitive health in aging populations,” said lead author Dr. Amir Baniassadi, an assistant scientist at the Marcus Institute.
“This research highlights the need for public health interventions and housing policies that prioritize climate resilience for older adults. As global temperatures rise, providing access to temperature-controlled environments will be crucial to protecting their cognitive well-being.”
Previous research found that older Americans living in warmer areas are more likely to suffer “serious vision impairment” than those in colder regions.
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