Living near water could be the secret to a healthy and happy life in old age, according to new research.
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 age-related mental decline.
They had a 13.2 per cent lower risk of cognitive decline as measured by tests of memory and reaction times, according to the research reported in the journal, Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety.
The neurology experts behind the research claim that humid air around large expanses of water may limit air pollution which has previously been linked to age-related mental decline.
The sounds and sights of crashing waves and flowing water may also be an important factor in reducing stress levels and helping to improve mood among residents, added the researchers.
Test results from 35,669 men and women in the vast UK Biobank database were then matched with home addresses and the proximity to lakes, rivers, or the sea. The experts measured memory, reaction times and verbal and numerical reasoning.
Exposure to air pollution was calculated for each address. The researchers also took into account a range of factors, from age, education and weight, to diet, blood pressure and drinking habits.
The surprising findings show that the more blue space around the home, the lesser the mental decline. Those with high levels of blue space within 300 metres of their home had a 13.2 per cent lower risk of cognitive impairment.
Whitby harbour in North Yorkshire. Middle-aged and older people who live close to the sea are less likely to suffer age-related mental decline, scientists have found
Researchers have found sounds and sights of crashing waves and flowing water may 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 levels of particulate matter in the air were highest, a 10 per cent increase in blue space within 300 metres of the home was associated with a 26.2 per cent improvement in performance on the 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 partly responsible for the findings.
Kaitai Yang, one of the co-authors of the study from Fujian Medical University.
‘Although blue space cannot directly eliminate air pollutants, the presence of humid air and adjacent wetlands can reduce the levels of air pollutants.’
The researcher said the findings could have important implications for planners and policymakers in creating healthy cities of the future.
‘Blue space exerted a protective effect on cognitive function in the presence of high levels of air pollutants. In other words, blue space may mitigate the detrimental effects of air pollution on cognitive function,’ he said.
‘These findings are likely to have significant implications in policymaking and the development of healthy cities. They emphasise the importance of considering air pollution when planning and designing blue space to maximize the public health benefits associated with it.’
