Living near nature can improve mental and physical health in older adults, study finds

A new study has suggested that residing near urban green or blue spaces might enhance physical and mental health in seniors. This study, headed by research scientists from Washington State University, utilized survey data gathered from over 42,000 individuals living in urban locations within Washington state between 2011 and 2019. The findings, published in the Health & Place journal, indicated that merely a 10% increase in forest area within an individual's postal code was associated with a decline in mental health conditions necessitating treatment and influencing personal and professional functioning. Furthermore, a 10% increase in accessibility to greenery, tree coverage, bodies of water, or expansive trails decreased the likelihood of seniors rating their overall health as fair or poor.

Adithya Vegaraju, the study's author, remarked in a news release that rapid urbanization and the consequent loss of green and blue spaces might have repercussions beyond environmental impact; it could also potentially affect public health. Vegaraju highlighted that this is the first study among others on the topic to exclusively focus on American seniors, who are particularly prone to mental health issues such as depression which may elevate dementia risk and cognitive deterioration.

Healthcare might want to incorporate spending time outdoors into their treatments for senior citizens, following the conclusions from the study, according to Vegaraju. This falls under a rising trend of "nature prescriptions". Additionally, the study finds it crucial to investigate the precise correlation between mental well-being and closeness to nature, as noted by senior study author, Solmaz Amiri. Amiri hopes that these results will benefit individuals from low-income backgrounds living within urban locales who may lack equal access to green and blue spaces.