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The relationship between natural outdoor environments and cognitive functioning and its mediators.
Wilma L Zijlema1, Margarita Triguero-Mas1, Graham Smith2
1Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Melchor Fernández Almagro, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
Environmental Research
|March 4, 2017
Summary
Living closer to natural outdoor environments (NOE) may improve cognitive function. This study found that greater distance from NOE was linked to slower cognitive test performance, but mediators remain unclear.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Psychology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Public Health
Background:
- Urban living often limits access to nature, potentially leading to cognitive fatigue and reduced mental restoration.
- Natural outdoor environments (NOE) are hypothesized to benefit cognitive function, yet the specific mechanisms are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the long-term relationship between natural outdoor environments (NOE) and cognitive function in European adults.
- To investigate potential mediating factors, such as social cohesion and physical activity, in the association between NOE and cognition.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional analysis of adult participants from the PHENOTYPE project across three European cities.
- Assessment of residential proximity to NOE, surrounding greenness, perceived NOE availability, and NOE engagement.
- Cognitive function measured using the Color Trails Test (CTT); mediation analysis employed.
Main Results:
- An increased residential distance to natural outdoor environments (NOE) was associated with longer Color Trails Test (CTT) completion times, indicating poorer cognitive function.
- No significant associations were observed between other NOE indicators (greenness, perceived availability, engagement) and cognitive function.
- Neighborhood social cohesion showed a marginal association with both NOE distance and CTT performance, but did not mediate the relationship. Other potential mediators were also not supported.
Conclusions:
- Proximity to natural outdoor environments (NOE) shows a potential benefit for cognitive function.
- The underlying mechanisms driving the relationship between NOE and cognitive function could not be established in this study.
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