Living close to nature in adulthood can slow the rate of cognitive decline later in life, according to a study published in July in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. The results were even more significant in low-income areas, reinforcing the importance of green spaces as an environmental factor that can help prevent mental decline.
According to the authors, it is already known that contact with nature is associated with lower rates of depression, which is a risk factor for dementia. In addition, green areas promote more opportunities for physical activity and social connections and help reduce stress. However, there are few prospective studies on the subject.
To evaluate this relationship, the authors of study — linked to different research centers in the United States — selected almost 17,000 elderly women participating in the Nurses’ Health Study. This is a survey that has followed more than 120,000 nurses since 1976, living in 11 US states. They were subjected to cognitive tests repeated at least four times between 1995 and 2001. They were then monitored until 2008.
Satellite images revealed the extent of green areas in the places where they lived about nine years before the cognitive tests began. All results were cross-checked taking into account factors such as age, socioeconomic level and diagnosis of depression.
Scientists found that those who already had greater contact with nature at the beginning of the study demonstrated higher levels of cognitive function in the first tests and, over the course of the investigation, a slower rate of mental decline.
The study also correlated the findings with the presence of the APOE-ɛ4 gene, a known risk factor for the development of Alzheimer’s, revealing that carriers of this gene who lived in green areas also had a slowdown in cognitive decline.
“People who are close to nature exercise more, which is a protective factor, and there is also greater exposure to sunlight, which benefits the circadian cycle, sleep quality and the production of vitamin D,” says geriatrician Thais Ioshimoto, from Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein. She points out that sleeping well is very important for preserving memory. “Not to mention that direct contact of the feet with the ground, a technique called grounding by Americans, has also been studied as beneficial for our health.”
Furthermore, more and more studies show the impact of air pollution on mental deterioration, not only in large cities, but also that caused by the combustion of wood and other fossil materials that release black carbon, a harmful material. “Today we know that 45% of the risk factors for dementia can be prevented,” says the geriatrician at Einstein.
She explains that prevention begins with good education throughout life — and that other factors known to prevent cardiovascular diseases also serve to preserve memory, such as practicing physical activity, not smoking, having a healthy diet rich in antioxidants, and adequate control of cholesterol and diabetes.
“These factors apply to the entire population, from the youngest to the youngest. In middle-aged and elderly individuals, preventing hearing loss and vision loss is very important. In the elderly, avoiding social isolation is essential,” summarizes the doctor.
Almost half of dementia cases could be prevented, study says
This content was originally published in Living near green areas reduces cognitive decline in old age on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
I am an experienced journalist and writer with a career in the news industry. My focus is on covering Top News stories for World Stock Market, where I provide comprehensive analysis and commentary on markets around the world. I have expertise in writing both long-form articles and shorter pieces that deliver timely, relevant updates to readers.
