Living in "greener" places generates less cognitive deterioration

Contact with nature and its greenery has always been badociated with good mental health and minor depressive episodes or images of anxiety. Scientists from the Institute for Global Health in Barcelona (Spain) (Isglobal) were given the task of determining whether this also had an impact on the cognitive decline of old age and found that it existed an badociation.

This is not catastrophic, but the study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives shows that older people living in neighborhoods where contact with nature is greater have slower cognitive decline and loss of core functions "Recent evidence has shown cognitive benefits of green space exposure in boys and girls, but studies on possible relationships between exposure at these sites and cognitive decline in older people are still rare.This is why we wanted to explore it, "said Carmen de Keijzer, researcher at ISGlobal and first author of the Study

The researchers took into account 6,500 people followed for a decade. . Participants were between 45 and 68 at the beginning of the research.

At three different times during these ten years, participants completed a battery of cognitive tests that evaluated their verbal and mathematical reasoning, verbal fluency, and short-term memory.

In addition, scientists calculated the green space in the neighborhood of each participant using satellite images.

After 10 years and badysis The results of Keijzer and his team found that cognitive deterioration was 4.6% lower for those who lived in greener areas. In the case of women, the difference was greater and around 6%.

"There is evidence that the risk of dementia and cognitive impairment can be influenced by exposure to environmental threats related to the urban environment (such as air pollution and environmental pollution). noise) and lifestyle (with factors such as stress or sedentary behavior) .On the contrary, it has also been suggested that living near green spaces increases physical activity and social life, reduces the stress and reduces exposure to air pollution and noise, "Keijzer said.

Scientists have said that this topic should be investigated further and include different populations, but this may already be a basis for scientific evidence to begin work.

These results are given at a particular time when the aging of the population remains constant and According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), it is expected that by 2050, the proportion More than 60 years of age in the world will have doubled compared to 2015. Any discovery, however minimal Whatever happens to this population, it is welcomed by specialists from different fields.

A 2015 survey conducted by scientists at the University of Minnesota, USA, had previously suggested that nature has a positive impact on the mental well-being of older people. They were instructed to see if contact with green spaces (with many trees and plants) and blues (where there are water sources) helped this population to improve their quality

Green spaces increase physical activity and social life, reduce stress and reduce exposure to air pollution and noise. Carmen de Keijzer, researcher ISGlobal

To this end, researchers interviewed 300 seniors once a year. For five years, they were asked to indicate how much time they spent around green spaces, and they also underwent tests to determine their mental health status and whether there was a risk of depressive symptoms. or anxiety. 19659005] The answer, published in the journal Health and Place was that these natural areas constitute a therapy that nourishes the mental and emotional health of the people of the ter

The researchers found that these places caused feelings of renewal and spiritual connection, and that they constituted a space of encounter and sharing with their family or with other persons of their age

. offers benefits for the general population, not just for those who paint gray hair. For example, a survey of the University of Syracuse, New York, EE. UU he also indicated, in 2014, that trees save about 850 lives a year and lower the rate of respiratory diseases in different age groups.

To arrive at these conclusions, the researchers badyzed the air in places where there is a large quantity. of trees and compared with that found in places of small nature. They searched for four types of substances: nitrogen, ozone, sulfur dioxide and fine particles (PM 2.5).

These latter particles are particularly harmful to health, because if thin, they have the ability to reach directly to the lungs and affect breathing and the functioning of air management in the body.

The researchers found that in areas where there were more trees, contamination by ozone and PM 2.5 was up to three times lower. its part, if the trees were cut, the pollution began to rise gradually. In five years, it could increase by 18%.

Not all people have the opportunity to live with large gardens by their side. Many live, for example, in apartment towers with very little space.

However, for gardening and interior design specialists, in any space you can have this greenery offered by plants and The first rule, according to Valeria Lugo, specialist nursery , is having this space near a window or balcony, since all plants need sunlight to survive.

put one or two large plants and that already makes a big difference. Or, buy several small plants and put them on shelves. Everyone's creativity can give excellent tools, "said the specialist.

Lugo pointed out that it's essential to know what type of plant you have and the specific care you need because each one is different and requires a specific form to live with it, some need water every day, others, but this can drown them.The only way to make sure is to consult when one buy the best way to treat this specific plant.

"When you arrive at the nursery, say that you have little space, where you live and what is the climate in your house." With that, they can already better advise you on what to buy and what care to give, "concludes the specialist.

Another suggestion from other experts is the possibility of installing in the house the so-called vertical gardens (walls or walls), very fashionable in modern constructions.