Being close to water might hold the key to a healthier, happier retirement years, suggests recent studies.
Researchers have discovered that middle-aged and elderly individuals in the UK living close to seas, lakes, or rivers—referred to as ‘blue spaces’—are less prone to experiencing cognitive deterioration associated with aging.
According to the study published in the journal Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, they exhibited a 13.2 percent reduced likelihood of experiencing cognitive decline when assessed through memory and reaction time evaluations.
The researchers specializing in neurology suggest that moist air surrounding extensive bodies of water might reduce air pollution, which was formerly associated with cognitive deterioration in older adults.
The noise and visuals of breaking waves and moving water might play a crucial role in decreasing stress levels and enhancing the mood of inhabitants, noted the researchers.
The test outcomes of 35,669 individuals—both men and women—from the extensive UK Biobank dataset were correlated with their residential locations in relation to bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, or the ocean. Researchers evaluated various cognitive functions including memory, response speed, and skills related to verbal and numeric comprehension.
For every address, exposure to air pollution was determined. Additionally, the researchers considered various factors including age, educational level, body mass index, dietary habits, blood pressure, and alcohol consumption.
The unexpected results indicate that increased amounts of blue space near one’s residence correlate with less mental deterioration. Individuals who have significant blue space within 300 meters of their homes exhibit a 13.2 percent reduced likelihood of experiencing cognitive impairment.
The impact was even more pronounced during periods of elevated air pollution. Specifically, when concentrations of particulate matter in the atmosphere reached their peak, a 10 percent rise in nearby blue spaces within 300 meters from residences correlated with a 26.2 percent enhancement in test scores for cognitive functions.
The research team, affiliated with Fujian Medical University in China, suggested that the decrease in air pollution linked to blue spaces could partially account for their observations.
Kaitai Yang, who is one of the co-authors of the study from Fujian Medical University.
While blue spaces cannot directly remove airborne contaminants, the existence of moist air and nearby marshes can decrease the concentration of these pollutants.
The researcher indicated that these discoveries might hold significant consequences for those involved in urban planning and policy-making when they aim to develop health-conscious metropolitan areas in the coming years.
“Blue spaces demonstrated a shielding impact on cognitive functions when exposed to high concentrations of air contaminants. To put it another way, blue spaces could potentially reduce the negative impacts of air pollution on cognitive abilities,” he explained.
These discoveries are expected to significantly impact policy-making and the creation of healthier urban environments. They stress the necessity of factoring in air pollution during the planning and design phases of blue spaces to optimize their positive effects on public health.
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