According to new research, living near water could be the secret to a healthy and happy life in old age.
Scientists have found that middle-aged and older people in the UK who live near the sea, lakes or rivers (so-called “blue spaces”) are less likely to suffer from age-related mental decline.
They had a 13.2 percent lower risk of cognitive decline as measured by tests of memory and reaction times, according to the research published in the journal Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety.
The neurology experts behind the research say that humid air around large bodies of water can limit air pollution that has previously been linked to age-related mental decline.
The sounds and images of crashing waves and flowing water may also be an important factor in reducing stress levels and helping to improve mood among residents, the researchers added.
The test results of 35,669 men and women from the UK Biobank’s extensive database were compared with their home addresses and proximity to lakes, rivers or the sea. The experts measured memory, reaction times, and verbal and numerical reasoning.
Air pollution exposure was calculated for each direction. The researchers also took into account a variety of factors, from age, education and weight, to diet, blood pressure and drinking habits.
The surprising findings show that the more blue space there is around the house, the less mental decline there is. Those with high levels of blue space within 300 meters of their home had a 13.2 percent lower risk of cognitive decline.
Whitby Harbor in North Yorkshire. Middle-aged and older people who live near the sea are less likely to suffer from age-related mental decline, scientists have found
Researchers have found that the sounds and images of crashing waves and flowing water can also be an important factor in reducing stress levels and helping to improve mood among residents (file photo)
The effect was even more marked when air pollution was high. When airborne particle levels were higher, a 10 percent increase in blue space within a 300-meter radius of the home was associated with a 26.2 percent improvement in performance on cognitive tests. .
The researchers, all based at Fujian Medical University in China, said the reduction in air pollution associated with blue spaces may be, at least in part, responsible for the findings.
Kaitai Yang, one of the study’s co-authors from Fujian Medical University.
“Although blue space cannot directly remove air pollutants, the presence of moist air and adjacent wetlands can reduce air pollutant levels.”
The researcher said the findings could have important implications for planners and policymakers in creating healthy cities in the future.
«Blue space exerted a protective effect on cognitive function in the presence of high levels of atmospheric pollutants. “In other words, blue spaces can mitigate the detrimental effects of air pollution on cognitive function,” he said.
“These findings are likely to have important implications for policymaking and the development of healthy cities. They highlight the importance of taking air pollution into account when planning and designing blue spaces to maximize the public health benefits associated with it.’