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Friday 20 May 2022

'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

33 comments:

William Kendall said...

Quite informative.

Kay G. said...

I am so much in agreement. YAY for nature!
I love the sign that I saw once beside a beautiful bed of flowers in someone's yard, "We were made for the Garden." (Adam and Eve reference, of course.)
Must stop typing and go outside in nature now! xx

Tom said...

...it works for me!

Elephant's Child said...

And green spaces are ALWAYS a mood lifter.

Christine said...

I guess weeding gets me out there

DMS said...

Spending time in nature definitely calms me and centers me. I love to spend time walking in the woods and soaking in the trees and creatures. :) We need more green spaces for sure. :)
~Jess

DVArtist said...

I agree with this too. How could it not help?

J.P. Alexander said...

A mi me gusta caminar por el jardín con mis perritas. Te mando un beso.

Practical Parsimony said...

I totally agree based on my experiences. My yard was like a public garden area. I had oaks and pines and hickory trees overhead, shrubs, flowers, and two swings and four benches and three tables. I reveled in being outside for a portion of each day. I even had a picture window that I faced all day so I could see the tree outside, how the wind blew it, flowers. When I moved here, none of the drapes can be opened. The door can be opened if it is not too hot, too cold, or too windy! I have put hanging flowers on shepherd's hooks where I can see them through the door. It all makes me very happy, calm, and satisfied.

We have a cd of birdcalls of Alabama. When we have to sit in the car in a line, usually under trees, waiting for things to happen, we listen to the birdcall cd. It puts me right to sleep.

peppylady (Dora) said...

Being outside does one wonders.
Coffee is on and stay safe

Margaret D said...

Interesting read Jan.

roughterrain crane said...

Our ancient memories still hold calm and happy times we experienced in the forest or green spaces.

Valerie-Jael said...

We have lots of greem here - woods, meadows and fields, and lots of gardens, too, and I always feel better after a walk through my green world. Have a great weekend, Valerie

linda said...

I always feel so much better after being out in nature.

Ana Mínguez Corella said...

Really beautiful to live near the nature... Happy weekend...

eileeninmd said...

Hello,
Interesting information. I enjoy living next to the forest and lake here.
Take care, enjoy your weekend.

David M. Gascoigne, said...

There have been so many studies, and books written of late, about the values of exposure to forests, the concept of forest bathing etc, that it's hard to deny the benefits, but I am quite sure that those of us who have been immersed in nature all our lives knew that instinctively. If I had to spend my life in a city, surrounded by concrete, asphalt, noise and air pollution, I am quite sure it would drive me mad - literally!

CJ Kennedy said...

My happiest spot is the sunroom where I can look out at all the trees and the garden. Watch the birds at the feeder. And no bugs! 😸

baili said...

great sharing dear Jan and i am thankful for how much you try to keep us aware about our well being ,i am sure Gd will keep rewarding you for this kindness!

yes Nature is healer and motherly ,i am glad i am among those who to be happy require nothing but closeness to nature :) hugs and blessinsg!

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

Thank you! Great information!

New owners removed the green hedgerow to have a clear view for solar panels. Save on hot water costs. Yet, base rent increases anyway. To make it worse, resident gardens were stopped in favor of ugly landscaping badly tended. I was told that if we get too sick, elderly folks, then our gardens will make the place look bad. We can weed, minimal planting, water plants, only if we haul the water because they refuse to allow access to water hose taps.

Little Wandering Wren said...

Birdsong always makes me feel good in nature too!
Have a happy weekend
Wren x

Giorgio said...

You've shared a lot of information. That's a great post!
We should learn how to respect future generatiions.
Have a nice weekend :-)

Lori Miller said...

I love living in a leafy, green city.

Jenn Jilks said...

It is super getting out doors! The bugs are bad, but it is lovely!
(ツ) from Cottage Country Ontario , ON, Canada!

Snowbird said...

Well that's going to be my excuse for spending even more time outdoors!xxx

Dewena said...

What an interesting report! It doesn't really surprise me and it certainly makes me happy to know this. I hope it's not too late for something to be done more and more to provide these spaces for people who aren't near them. Personally, I do hope that my 26 years living in a valley surrounded by hills and trees and gardening outside in them will have helped cognitive function. That's encouraging. Even here in our golden years this small house is surrounded by land and hills and a pond and it brings us joy every day, every season.

Rose said...

I so agree with this...I have always enjoyed being out. We called it going to the woods, and that is what we did. Not in what you think of as a park, man made area. But on our farm and on neighbor's farms, and even here in Indiana we used to go to an aquaintance's farm and ramble the woods. We don't since Roger's stroke and I miss it so much. It just renewed me.

Jeanie said...

That's really interesting and it makes a lot of sense.

Sue said...

It does make sense doesn't it x

NatureFootstep said...

nature works for sure. I go out every day in what nature we still have. Sadly it decreases dayly. :(

Divers and Sundry said...

Helpful information. It's nice to know there are studies to support this. Maybe city planning folks will listen.

sandy said...

I think i must have a brilliant brain - ...i live in the midst of a forest and all I see from any window of my house are cedar incense trees and other beautiful trees. and i like to walk under them.

Teresa said...

Muy de acuerdo con tu reportaje, en mí jardín estoy muy feliz, viendo las flores, escuchando los cantos de los pájaros y los insectos que también me gustan. Besos.