According to a recent study, living near green spaces in middle age may offer surprising benefits for our mental health. Research suggests that exposure to green spaces may help delay the onset of cognitive impairment.
And this exciting discovery does not only affect older adults, but is of particular importance to certain groups of people.
Green spaces in the middle of concrete jungles
The study was led by Dr. Marcia Pescador Jimenez, associate professor of epidemiology at the Boston University School of Public Health (PUBLIC BUSES).
The mission? To understand how living near green areas during the best years can improve cognitive health in the later stages of life.
The fascinating results? Living in greener neighborhoods during middle age can reduce the annual rate of cognitive decline by eight months.
Interestingly, this correlation was even more pronounced for people residing in neighborhoods with low socioeconomic status and densely populated areas.
Cognitive decline is more common in these groups of society, making green spaces an unexpected but promising solution.
APOE-ɛ4 gene carriers and Alzheimer’s
The study also highlighted a crucial genetic component linked to Alzheimer’s disease. People who possess the APOE-ɛ4 gene, a variant associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s, also showed significant cognitive benefits from exposure to green light.
APOE-ɛ4 carriers who lived in greener neighborhoods exhibited a threefold slowdown in cognitive decline compared with those who did not have the gene.
A revelation of this magnitude is critical, especially since APOE-ɛ4 gene carriers currently have no measures in place to mitigate their dementia risks.
More green, less madness
While links between green exposure and cognitive health have been previously observed, this study is important because of its larger scope and longer observation period.
Dr. Pescador Jiménez and her colleagues from several institutions used data from a long-running health study to explore this association.
The comprehensive study looked at the cognitive health of more than 16,000 participants over the age of 70.
Additionally, the team used state-of-the-art satellite imagery metrics to calculate vegetation levels in participants’ residential areas.
Green spaces: a socioeconomic equalizer
In particular, the study found that participants residing in densely populated, low-socioeconomic neighborhoods benefited most from exposure to green spaces.
Dr. Pescador Jiménez drew parallels with the theory of equigeny environmentssuggesting that green spaces may help offset disparities in socioeconomic health.
This idea is particularly fundamental as it proposes the concept of creating green spaces in disadvantaged areas to promote cognitive health and social equity.
Mental health and the green connection
The role of mental health Another interesting aspect was that the data suggests that exposure to green could be related to cognitive decline over time through mental health.
This expands on previous research suggesting a connection between limited exposure to green spaces during midlife and a decline in cognitive function through depression.
The research highlights the importance of prioritizing the preservation and creation of green spaces.
Considering the increasing cases of Alzheimer disease and related dementia, green spaces could be the key to delaying or preventing these conditions, especially among at-risk communities.
“Our results are vital as they propose cognitive benefits of increasing exposure to green spaces at the population level, particularly among vulnerable subgroups,” said Dr. Pescador Jimenez.
Lasting impacts of the green revolution
So is it time for a green revolution? As this study indicates, increasing green spaces, especially in disadvantaged neighbourhoods, is essential to reducing health inequalities and promoting better cognitive health in later life.
It’s time we start investing sustainably in our neighborhoods to reap the long-term cognitive benefits. After all, our mental health could only depend on a daily dose of green energy.
The study is published in the journal Environmental health perspectives.
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