Home Lighting Linked to Activity Levels in Older Adults with Visual Impairment

A recent study published online in JAMA Ophthalmology sheds light on the significant impact of home environment, particularly lighting, on the activity levels of older adults with visual impairment.

Conducted by Seema Banerjee, Ph.D., and colleagues from Johns Hopkins University, the study aimed to explore the association between home environment features and physical activity in individuals with visual impairment, focusing on patients aged 60 years and older with glaucoma suspect and primary glaucoma.

Key findings from the analysis of 153 participants revealed compelling insights:

● Positive Correlation with Lighting: Participants showed a tendency to take more daily steps and had a faster average daily peak cadence with each 0.1-log unit increment in average measured home lighting.

● Other Activity Metrics: Home lighting also exhibited trends with the average number of non-sedentary activity minutes, average bout duration, and activity fragmentation.

● No Association with Hazards: Surprisingly, no significant associations were observed between the number of hazards in the home environment and any activity metric.

The authors emphasize the need for further prospective studies to validate whether home modifications can effectively enhance at-home activity levels among older adults with visual impairment.

This study underscores the importance of optimizing home environments, particularly lighting conditions, to promote physical activity and improve overall well-being in this vulnerable population.

Reference

Seema Banerjee et al, Visual Impairment and Real-World Home Physical Activity With Home Environment in an Older Population, JAMA Ophthalmology (2024). DOI: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2023.6436