Subscribe
The latest psychology and neuroscience discoveries.
My Account
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • Psychopharmacology
No Result
View All Result
PsyPost
PsyPost
No Result
View All Result
Home Exclusive Mental Health

Exposure to natural environments may be protective against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s hospitalization

by Eric W. Dolan
January 24, 2023
in Mental Health

[Subscribe to PsyPost on YouTube to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in psychology and neuroscience]

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

New research provides evidence that some types of natural environments are associated with a decreased risk hospitalization for neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. The findings have been published in JAMA Network Open.

“We were interested in the relation between natural environments and hospitalization because there were some indications that natural environments could affect the risk and/or exacerbate symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and Parkinson’s disease,” said study author Jochem O. Klompmaker, a postdoctoral researcher at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health.

“For example, exposure to natural environments, such as forests, parks, and blue spaces, can help reduce stress, provide settings for physical activity and social interactions, and may reduce exposure to air pollution. Other studies observed protective associations of natural environments with cognitive decline, mental health and stroke.”

The researchers examined data from nearly 62 million Medicare recipients aged 65 years or older who lived in the contiguous United States from January 1, 2000, through December 31, 2016. roughly 7.7 million were hospitalized for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, while nearly 1.2 million were hospitalized for Parkinson’s disease.

The researchers used residential zip codes to estimate exposure to natural environments such as parks, waterways, or vegetation such as trees, crops, or grass. They found that living in zip codes with a higher than average amount of vegetation was linked to lower rates of first-time hospitalizations for Alzheimer’s disease. Living near any type of nature was linked to lower rates of first-time hospitalizations for Parkinson’s disease.

“Our findings suggest that exposure to some natural environments may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease hospitalization among older adults,” Klompmaker told PsyPost. “As life expectancy increases globally, and no cures exist for Alzheimer disease and related dementias or Parkinson’s disease, policy makers may consider interventions of natural environments to prevent hospitalizations.”

Interestingly, the presence of parks appeared to provide the greatest buffer against Parkinson’s disease in low-socioeconomic status neighborhoods, while general vegetation appeared to provide the greatest buffer in mid- and high-socioeconomic status neighborhoods

“We observed stronger protective associations of percentage park cover with Parkinson’s disease hospitalization in low socioeconomic status zip codes,” Klompmaker said. We do not know the exact reason, but think that individuals from low-socioeconomic status neighborhoods tend to use parks more often than other individuals.”

The researchers controlled for factors such as age, sex, and ethnicity. But the study, like all research, includes some caveats.

“A limitation of this study is that we lacked information about the residential address of each beneficiary, therefore, we assessed natural environment at zip code level,” Klompmaker noted. “In addition, no information about the quality and safety of parks, greenness, and blue spaces was available.”

The researchers proposed some pathways that might help explain why natural environments could help to lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease hospitalizations. For example, green spaces might reduce exposure to air pollutants, provide stress reduction, give people the opportunity to engage in physical activity, and help to facilitate social interactions. But “further research is needed to study potential pathways underlying the associations,” Klompmaker said.

The study, “Associations of Greenness, Parks, and Blue Space With Neurodegenerative Disease Hospitalizations Among Older US Adults“, was authored by Jochem O. Klompmaker, Francine Laden, Matthew H. E. M. Browning, Francesca Dominici,Marcia P. Jimenez, S. Scott Ogletree, Alessandro Rigolon, Antonella Zanobetti, Jaime E. Hart ,and Peter James.

ShareTweetSendScanShareSharePin1Send

NEWSLETTER SIGN-UP

STAY CONNECTED

TRENDING

When skin becomes smoother, the face is seen as prettier, even if it isn’t detectable

One in four people may experience estrangement from a sibling in adulthood, study finds

Exposure to social media can increase adolescent materialism but can be tempered with high self-esteem and mindfulness

Virtual reality can inoculate people against the allure of alternative romantic partners, study finds

Study uncovers a “particularly alarming” link between men’s feelings of personal deprivation and hostile sexism

Massive study sheds light on the psychological consequences of COVID-19 distress among workers

RECENT

Massive study sheds light on the psychological consequences of COVID-19 distress among workers

New study links psychedelic drug experience to certain positive health behaviors

Electrical brain stimulation techniques can enhance hypnotizability, study finds

Exposure to social media can increase adolescent materialism but can be tempered with high self-esteem and mindfulness

An individual’s personality traits may influence their desire to make environmentally friendly food choices

Nipple erection influences perceptions of women’s intelligence, morality, and sexuality

When skin becomes smoother, the face is seen as prettier, even if it isn’t detectable

Study uncovers a “particularly alarming” link between men’s feelings of personal deprivation and hostile sexism

Currently Playing

Individuals with dark personality traits are less oriented towards long-term mating strategies

Disclosing victim status reduces online dating matches regardless of race or sex

Individuals with dark personality traits are less oriented towards long-term mating strategies

Dark Triad
Longitudinal study examines the effects of adversity on wise reasoning

New study examines the psychological mechanisms underlying Solomon’s paradox

Social Psychology
Engaging in religious practice, even if you don’t believe, may increase your capacity to delay gratification

Engaging in religious practice, even if you don’t believe, may increase your capacity to delay gratification

Cognitive Science
New study sheds light on how three distinct types of first impressions predict subsequent dating outcomes

New study sheds light on how three distinct types of first impressions predict subsequent dating outcomes

Relationships and Sexual Health
A single, moderate dose of psilocybin reduces depressive symptoms for at least two weeks, controlled study finds

A single, moderate dose of psilocybin reduces depressive symptoms for at least two weeks, controlled study finds

Depression
Study identifies factors that influence the link between men’s body esteem and their ability to enjoy their sexuality

Study identifies factors that influence the link between men’s body esteem and their ability to enjoy their sexuality

Mental Health
  • Cognitive Science
  • COVID-19
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Drug Research
  • Conspiracy Theories
  • Meditation
  • Psychology of Religion
  • Aviation Psychology and Human Factors
  • Relationships and Sexual Health
  • Evolutionary Psychology
  • Neuroimaging
  • Psychedelic Drugs
  • Dark Triad
  • Political Psychology

About

PsyPost is a psychology and neuroscience news website dedicated to reporting the latest research on human behavior, cognition, and society. (READ MORE...)

  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy

Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Cognitive Science Research
  • Mental Health Research
  • Social Psychology Research
  • About PsyPost
    • Contact us
  • Privacy policy

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used.