Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38705875›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2024

The impact of sunlight exposure on brain structural markers in the UK Biobank.

Huihui Li, Fusheng Cui, Tong Wang, Weijing Wang, Dongfeng Zhang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Neurobiophilia.Brain sciences · 2026
    Review
  4. Article
  5. Photosensitivity of an aging brain.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2025
    Article
  6. Review
  7. Neurosustainability.Frontiers in human neuroscience · 2024
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Huihui LiDepartment of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Public Health College, Qingdao University, No. 308 Ningxia Road, QingdaoShandong Province, 266071, China.
Fusheng CuiDepartment of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Public Health College, Qingdao University, No. 308 Ningxia Road, QingdaoShandong Province, 266071, China.
Tong WangDepartment of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Public Health College, Qingdao University, No. 308 Ningxia Road, QingdaoShandong Province, 266071, China.
Weijing WangDepartment of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Public Health College, Qingdao University, No. 308 Ningxia Road, QingdaoShandong Province, 266071, China. wangwj793@126.com.
Dongfeng ZhangDepartment of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Public Health College, Qingdao University, No. 308 Ningxia Road, QingdaoShandong Province, 266071, China. zhangdf1961@126.com.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 82073641
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Sunlight is closely intertwined with daily life. It remains unclear whether there are associations between sunlight exposure and brain structural markers. General linear regression analysis was used to compare the differences in brain structural markers among different sunlight exposure time groups. Stratification analyses were performed based on sex, age, and diseases (hypertension, stroke, diabetes). Restricted cubic spline was performed to examine the dose-response relationship between natural sunlight exposure and brain structural markers, with further stratification by season. A negative association of sunlight exposure time with brain structural markers was found in the upper tertile compared to the lower tertile. Prolonged natural sunlight exposure was associated with the volumes of total brain (β: - 0.051, P < 0.001), white matter (β: - 0.031, P = 0.023), gray matter (β: - 0.067, P < 0.001), and white matter hyperintensities (β: 0.059, P < 0.001). These associations were more pronounced in males and individuals under the age of 60. The results of the restricted cubic spline analysis showed a nonlinear relationship between sunlight exposure and brain structural markers, with the direction changing around 2 h of sunlight exposure. This study demonstrates that prolonged exposure to natural sunlight is associated with brain structural markers change.

Indexed as

BrainSunlightAdultAgedBiomarkersFemaleGray MatterHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMiddle AgedSeasonsUK BiobankUnited KingdomWhite MatterBiomarkers

Identifiers

PMID38705875
PMCPMC11070413

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.