Pollution, a lot of noise, a large number of people in a ‘small’ space like a city … these elements can cause chronic stress. But how does living in the city affect the health of our thinking organ?
A study by scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Human Development (Germany) has investigated the relationship between the availability of nature close to people who usually reside in cities and their brain health.
Previous studies have already shown that city dwellers are at increased risk for psychiatric illnesses such as depression, anxiety disorders and schizophrenia, compared to urban dwellers.
When comparing both brains according to the place of residence, higher levels of activity are observed in the amygdala of people who live in cities than in those who live in the countryside . The brain amygdala plays a huge role in processing stress and reacting to danger.
So the scientists wondered what factors might have a protective influence on people living in cities. For this reason, a research team, led by psychologist Simone Kühn, analyzed what effect nature had near homes, such as a forest, a park or even a vacant area , on brain regions that process stress, such as the amygdala. .
“Research on brain plasticity supports the assumption that the environment can shape brain structure and function. We are therefore interested in environmental conditions that can have positive effects on brain development. Studies with rural participants already have shown that living close to nature is good for mental health and well-being. Therefore, we decided to examine the inhabitants of the city, “explains Simone Kühn, leader of the work.
The experts found an association between place of residence and brain health. Specifically, city dwellers who lived near a forest were more likely to show indicators of a physiologically healthy amygdala structure, and therefore better able to cope with stress, than those who had no nearby or a trace of nature.
This effect was stable when differences in educational qualifications and income levels were controlled for. However, it was not possible to find a positive relationship between the brain regions examined and the presence of a park or wasteland.
Although it is not possible to distinguish whether living near a forest actually has positive effects on the amygdala or whether people with a healthier amygdala are more likely to select residential areas near a forest, the researchers consider the former explanation to be the most plausible. .
Study participants
The volunteers, a total of 341 adults between 61 and 82 years of age, belong to the Berlin Aging Study II (BASE-II), a larger longitudinal study that examines the physical, psychological and social conditions for healthy aging. In addition to performing memory and reasoning tests, they also performed MRI scans.
“Our study investigates for the first time the connection between urban planning characteristics and brain health,” explains Ulman Lindenberger, a co-author of the study.
Considering that by 2050, almost 70% of the world’s population is expected to live in cities , these conclusions could be relevant for urban planning.
Referencia: Simone Kühn et al. In search of features that constitute an “enriched environment” in humans: Associations between geographical properties and brain structure, Scientific Reports (2017). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-12046-7
