Confirming the Benefits of living near Green Spaces and Water

Vegaraju and Amiri found that “Living closer to outdoor spaces and water sources may reduce older people’s risk of having serious psychological distress, which can lead to mild cognitive impairment and dementia. . . . Researchers defined serious psychological distress as mental health problems that require treatment and have a moderate to severe effect on a person’s ability to participate in work, school and social situations. . . . The study involved 42,980 people age 65 or older living in urban areas in the state of Washington. . . . Green space was defined as public parks, community gardens and cemeteries. Blue space was defined as water bodies such as lakes, reservoirs, large rivers and coasts. . . .  People living within half a mile of green or blue spaces had a 17% lower risk of experiencing serious psychological distress compared to people living further than half a mile from green or blue spaces.”

“Is Living Close to Parks, Water Better for your Brain?” 2023.  Press release, American Academy of Neurology, https://www.aan.com/PressRoom/Home/PressRelease/5052