Study Links Daily Sun Exposure Over 90 Minutes to Higher Risks of Depression and Dementia
Researchers analyzing 12 years of health records from 270,000 British adults found that spending more than 90 minutes in sunlight daily raised the risk of depression by 17 percent and dementia by 24 percent. The study, published in Public Health, also recorded a 15 percent increase in early mortality for those exceeding the threshold.
naturalnews.comA study of 270,000 adults in Britain found that daily sunlight exposure exceeding 90 minutes was associated with elevated rates of depression, dementia, and premature death. The research team from Huazhong University of Science and Technology examined 12 years of health records with a mean participant age of 56.
During the period, nearly 34,000 people received at least one mental-health diagnosis and about 17,000 deaths occurred. Participants who spent more than 90 minutes in the sun each day showed a 17 percent higher risk of depression and a 24 percent higher risk of dementia compared with those limited to 90 minutes.
The same group also recorded a 15 percent greater likelihood of dying early.
When researchers looked at multiple mental-health conditions, individuals above the 90-minute threshold were 14 percent more likely to develop one condition and 20 percent more likely to develop two. The investigators noted that seasonal changes in serotonin and dopamine, along with inflammation and heat exposure to the head and neck, may contribute to the observed associations.
The research team stated that the lowest risk appeared at 1.5 hours of daily sunlight exposure and suggested this duration could serve as a reference point for future mental-health guidance.
