Nature's prescription: Living near parks and water can shield older adults from mental decline
By dominguez // 2025-08-19
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  • Older adults living within 0.5 miles of green and blue spaces had a 17 percent lower risk of serious psychological distress, per a Washington State University study of 42,980 urban seniors.
  • Proximity to nature may help prevent mild cognitive impairment and dementia, a growing concern as U.S. dementia cases are projected to triple by 2050 and 20 percent of older adults face mental health issues.
  • Exposure to nature reduces stress (lower cortisol), inflammation and depressive rumination, with blue spaces (water) offering added mood-boosting effects.
  • While 70 percent of participants lived near green spaces (60% near blue), the study relied on self-reported mental health data and didn't track actual nature exposure frequency.
  • The findings support urban planning reforms to prioritize green and blue spaces near senior housing and healthcare facilities as a low-cost mental health intervention.
A growing body of research suggests that proximity to nature isn't just a luxury — it may be a vital buffer against psychological distress, cognitive decline and dementia in older adults. A new study from Washington State University (WSU) adds compelling evidence to this argument, finding that seniors who live within half a mile of parks, forests or bodies of water experience significantly lower rates of serious psychological distress than those who live in more urbanized areas. The findings, presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 75th Annual Meeting, come at a critical time. With nearly one in five Americans expected to be over 65 by 2030, and global dementia cases projected to triple by 2050, researchers are racing to identify preventable risk factors. This study, led by Solmaz Amiri, a researcher at WSU's Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, offers a potential solution hiding in plain sight: the natural world. "Since we lack effective prevention methods or treatments for mild cognitive impairment and dementia, we need to get creative in how we approach these issues," Amiri said in a press release.

A half-mile rule for mental health

The study, which analyzed data from 42,980 urban-dwelling adults aged over 65 in Washington state, found that those living within a half-mile of green spaces (parks, gardens, cemeteries) or blue spaces (lakes, rivers, oceans) had a 17 percent lower risk of serious psychological distress compared to their peers who lived farther away. While the difference may seem modest — 1.3 percent of near-nature residents reported severe distress versus 1.5 percent of those living farther away — the implications are far-reaching when scaled across millions of aging Americans. The researchers defined psychological distress as mental health problems severe enough to impair daily functioning, from work productivity to social engagements. Left unchecked, such distress is a known precursor to mild cognitive impairment and dementia. The study's participants, drawn from U.S. Census and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data, self-reported their symptoms through a six-question survey assessing depression, anxiety and functional impairment over the past 30 days. Scores ranged from 0 to 24, with an average of 2; those scoring above 13 were classified as having serious distress. Notably, 70 percent of participants lived within half a mile of a green space, while 60 percent were near blue spaces — a reflection of Washington state’s relatively high access to nature. In a region with abundant parks and waterways, the protective effects were clear. (Related: The benefits of spending time in GREEN SPACES.)

Why nature works wonders on mental well-being

The study didn’t explore the biological mechanisms behind nature's mental health benefits, but prior research offers clues. A 2015 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences study found that walking in natural settings for 90 minutes reduced activity in the subgenual prefrontal cortex, a brain region linked to depressive rumination. Urban walkers showed no such effect. Other theories suggest that nature lowers stress hormones like cortisol, reduces inflammation and encourages physical activity — all of which contribute to cognitive resilience. Blue spaces, in particular, may have an edge: The sight and sound of water are associated with meditative states, while negative ions in ocean air have been linked to lower depression scores among patients and improved mood. Yet Amiri’s study also highlights a critical limitation: self-reported data. Participants' recollections of their mental state could be flawed, and the survey didn't account for how often they actually visited nearby green or blue spaces. Still, the correlation is strong enough to warrant further investigation, especially as urban planners grapple with how to design age-friendly cities.

Policy implications: Cities prescribing nature

The study's findings arrive as mental health crises among older adults escalate. The CDC reports that 20 percent of adults over 55 experience some type of mental health concern, from depression to anxiety disorders. Meanwhile, dementia cases are surging, with Alzheimer's alone costing the U.S. $345 billion annually. Yet pharmaceutical treatments remain limited, and prevention strategies are scarce. "Our hope is that this study may help inform public health policies in the future, from where residential facilities are located to programs to improve mental health outcomes of people living in long-term care centers or nursing homes," Amiri stated. Some cities are already acting. Portland, Oregon, has prioritized "20-minute neighborhoods" where residents can access parks within a short walk. Singapore's "biophilic city" initiative integrates greenery into high-rises, while Barcelona's "superblocks" limit traffic to create pedestrian-friendly green zones. If further research confirms nature's protective role, such designs could become standard — not just for quality of life, but for public health. Visit Mental.news for more stories like this. Watch this relaxing nature video about Fiji Islands. This video is from the Nature Relaxation Films channel on Brighteon.com.

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Living near nature may improve your mental health amid coronavirus pandemic. Still not convinced? Science proves that living close to nature makes people healthier. Nature’s classroom: How green spaces shape young minds for success. Sources include: Brighteon.ai StudyFinds.org AlzheimersResearchUK.org AAN.com PNAS.org BMCPsychiatry.BiomedCentral.com Brighteon.com
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