People who live close to nature may have a slower progression of neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, according to a study carried out at Harvard University, in the United States. The discovery was reported in the journal JAMAon December 20.
Previous studies have already shown that environmental factors – such as pollution, for example – increase the risk and/or exacerbate the symptoms of diseases of this type.
Geolocation
To carry out the study, researchers analyzed data on the health and lifestyle habits of approximately 62 million Americans. Information was collected between January 2000 and December 2016. One of the differences was the use of geolocation based on the postal code, which allowed researchers to map the regions where people lived.
They observed that the rate of hospitalization for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias or Parkinson’s was lower among older adults with easy access to green areas, such as forests and parks with vegetation, or blue areas, such as rivers and beaches.
The greener the environment around the individual’s residence, the lower the risk of hospitalization for any neurological disease. The risk of hospitalization for Parkinson’s fell the closer a person lived to water or a green area of significant size.
Parkinson’s is a neurological disease characterized by the progressive degeneration of the neurons responsible for producing dopamine.KATERYNA KON/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/ Getty Images
*****Photo-hand-tremendo.jpgThis degenerative process of nerve cells can affect different parts of the brain and, as a consequence, generate symptoms such as involuntary tremors, loss of motor coordination and muscle stiffness.Elizabeth Fernandez/Getty Images
*****Photo-nurse-helping-woman-to-get-up-from-armchair.jpgOther symptoms of the disease are slowness, muscle contraction, involuntary movements and postural instability.izusek/ Getty Images
*****Photo-elderly-sitting-eating.jpgIn advanced cases, the disease also prevents the production of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that regulates memory, learning and sleep.SimpleImages/ Getty Images
*****Photo-red-haired-woman-sitting-in-a-wheelchair.jpgAccording to the World Health Organization (WHO), although the disease is known to affect elderly people, about 10% to 15% of diagnosed patients are under 50 years old.Ilya Ginzburg/EyeEm/ Getty Images
*****Picture-hands-on-the-others.jpgIt is not known for sure what causes Parkinson’s, but when it occurs in young people, it is common that it has a genetic relationship. In this case, the symptoms progress more slowly, and there is greater cognitive preservation and life expectancy.Visoot Uthairam/ Getty Images
*****Photo-person-doing-CT scan.jpgThe diagnosis is medical and requires a series of exams, such as: brain tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. For patients without symptoms, computed tomography is recommended to check the amount of dopamine in the brainJohnnyGreig/ Getty Images
*****Picture-people-looking-at-the-skull-x-ray.jpgParkinson’s has no cure, but treatment can slow the progression of symptoms and help with quality of life. In addition to medication, monitoring by a multidisciplinary team is necessary. In some cases, brain surgery is possible.Andriy Onufriyenko/ Getty Images
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“Natural environments, such as forests, parks, tree-lined streets and rivers, can help reduce stress and restore attention, provide environments for physical activity and social interactions, and can reduce exposure to air pollution, extreme heat and noise,” they explain. the authors of the study.
According to the researchers, living close to green may also protect against several neurological outcomes, such as cognitive decline, stroke and mortality from neurodegenerative diseases.
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