'Nature Always Works'

"Living Near Greenery Could Give You a Brain Boost—and Reduce Dementia Risk

Study finds middle-aged women exposed to more green space may benefit from

higher cognitive function, slower mental decline, and reduced depression

Photo Credit Marcus Lindstrom

Relaxing in a shady yard (or garden) with trees gently swaying overhead might not just be good for your spirit—it could also be good for your brain. A new Boston University School of Public Health–led study has found that living in an area bursting with green space is associated with higher overall cognitive function in middle-aged women, as well as better mental processing speed and attention. Cognitive function at middle age is considered a strong predictor of whether a person may develop dementia later in life.

According to the researchers, who studied nearly 14,000 women with an average age of 61, the link between greenery and cognitive function might be explained by a reduction in depression, a risk factor for dementia. The findings, which were published in JAMA Network Open, bolster previous research that has linked exposure to parks, community gardens, and other greenery with improved mental health.

“Some of the primary ways that nature may improve health is by helping people recover from psychological stress and by encouraging people to be outside socializing with friends, both of which boost mental health,” says study lead author Marcia Pescador Jimenez, an SPH assistant professor of epidemiology. “This study is among the few to provide evidence that green space may benefit cognitive function in older ages. Our findings suggest that green space should be investigated as a potential population-level approach to improve cognitive function.”

Lessons for Policymakers and Urban Planners
During the study, Pescador Jimenez and her colleagues measured psychomotor speed, attention, learning, and working memory among primarily white women. The women were participants in the Nurses’ Health Study II, the second of three studies that are among the largest investigations into the risk factors for chronic diseases among women in the United States.

Adjusting for age, race, and individual and neighbourhood socioeconomic status, the researchers found that green space exposure—which they estimated using a satellite image–based metric called the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index—was associated with psychomotor speed and attention, but not learning or working memory.

They also examined the potential roles of air pollution and physical activity in explaining the association between green space and cognitive function, and they were surprised to only find evidence of depression as a mediating factor.

“We theorize that depression might be an important mechanism through which green space may slow down cognitive decline, particularly among women, but our research is ongoing to better understand these mechanisms,” Pescador Jimenez says. “Based on these results, clinicians and public health authorities should consider green space exposure as a potential factor to reduce depression, and thus, boost cognition. Policymakers and urban planners should focus on adding more green space in everyday life to improve cognitive function.”

In a new project funded by the National Institute on Aging, Pescador Jimenez will apply deep learning algorithms to Google Street View images to better understand which specific elements of greenery, such as trees or grass, could be the driving factors for health.

The researchers also hope that their study is replicated among other racial/ethnic populations.

“The distribution of green spaces in cities is not uniform,” says Pescador Jimenez. “Increasing everyday access to vegetation across vulnerable groups in urban cities is a crucial next step to achieve health equity.”

This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health, and also included researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and Rush Medical College."

Words and picture above from here

h/t Marks Daily Apple here

There have been quite a few studies and articles recently about the benefits from being outside enjoying nature. For example 'Birdsong Makes You Feel Good In Nature' - read it here and 'Time In Nature is Priceless' - read it here
I know I enjoy time spent outside and away from social media, it's wonderful to enjoy a walk, to be outside and to take time to enjoy the world around us.

I am hoping that the weather this weekend will be good and a lovely walk in some Spring sunshine can be enjoyed ...

How about you? Do please share your thoughts about this article in the comments.

You will find a variety of articles, studies and recipe ideas within this blog, and not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues please take these into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. If you have any concerns about your health it is always advisable to consult your Doctor or health care team.

All the best Jan