Environmental factors play key role in cognitive decline and dementia risk

A new study from the University of Georgia College of Public Health focuses on the powerful role that our environment plays in shaping dementia risk. Under the leadership of assistant professor of health policy and management Suhang Song, this meta-analysis shows that factors such as air pollution and access to green or blue spaces can significantly increase or lower the risk of cognitive decline and the development of dementia.

These figures show that life in a dementia-friendly environment is important to postpone or prevent cognitive decline and the beginning of dementia. “

Suhang Song, Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Management

Performing meta-analysis was important, just like different empirical studies to get a clearer picture of the environmental risk, Song said. The research combined 54 studies in a systematic review and 21 in meta-analysis, so that researchers can quantify the impact of various factors.

Although research from the past has shown that the relationship between environmental factors and the risk of dementia has shown, Song said that the contributions of some factors were worth mentioning.

Environmental factors can increase the risk of dementia by 10%

Living in the vicinity of large roads was associated with a roughly 10% higher risk of dementia and exposure to fine particles in the air – something generated by vehicles and industrial emissions – was associated with an increase in the risk of 9%. The nitrogen oxide increased the risk by 10%and noise pollution appeared to increase the risk by approximately 9%.

As an alternative, some built environments help reduce the risk of cognitive decline. Green and blue spaces, including built and nature parks and water bodies, reduced risk by around 6%. Walkability in a community, as well as access to local facilities, including food stores, community centers and health care, also reduces the risk.

“Based on these findings, we can suggest that people visit parks or forests more often and also live on the big roads,” Song said. “There is also life in a community where there is more walking, or close to local facilities such as bookshops, health care centers and more useful.”

Improvement of city planning

This data can help in informing efforts for urban planning to continue to create more communities that promote cognitive health, according to Song.

“The biggest advantage of this article is to quantify the association between certain factors and cognitive health,” Song said. “This analysis can provide evidence for data -driven city planning and support decision -makers.”

Summarizing objective measurements of environmental factors for future research

This systematic review and meta-analysis were aimed at studies with objectively measured environmental factors, which can reduce the bias associated with subjective measures such as air quality perceptions or individual reports of Greenspace and the beauty of an area. These cases of self -reported data can sometimes limit the reliability of the conclusions of a study.

Song hopes that this study will serve as a basis for future research, in which researchers are encouraged to prioritize objective measurements in investigating environmental influences on the risk of cognition and dementia.