MILLIONS of Brits are at risk of dementia because of where they live, scientists warn.
US researchers have suggested that people who live near a park or lake are less likely to develop the brain eating disease.
People who live near a park or lake are less likely to develop dementiaGetty – Contributor
Previous studies have found that high levels of stress could contribute to the onset of brain diseases like dementia.
The team wanted to find out whether living near green spaces reduced rates of anxiety in older people who are more prone to the brain condition.
To do this, they calculated the stress levels of 42,980 older adults and cross referenced the results against individuals proximity to parks and lakes.
And they found that those who lived within just half a mile of green and blue spaces were 17 per cent less likely to experience stress than those who lived further away.
Author, Professor Solmaz Amiri, of Washington State University, said the findings should help guide public health policies on Alzheimer’s.
He said: “This study may help guide where residential facilities are located to programs and improve mental health outcomes of people living in long-term care centres or nursing homes.”
“The study showing better mental health among people living close to parks and water will trigger other studies about how these benefits work and whether this proximity can help prevent or delay mild cognitive impairment and dementia,” the Prof added.
The findings will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 75th Annual Meeting, in April.
More than 55million people live with dementia worldwide, and there are nearly 10 million new cases every year, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO),
And 900,000 Brits are currently living with the nasty condition, according to Dementia UK.
Common early symptoms of dementia
Different types of dementia can affect people differently, and everyone will experience symptoms in their own way. However, there are some common early symptoms that may appear some time before a diagnosis of dementia. These include:
memory loss
difficulty concentrating
finding it hard to carry out familiar daily tasks, such as getting confused over the correct change when shopping
struggling to follow a conversation or find the right word
being confused about time and place
mood changes
It is the leading cause of death in Britain but experts don’t know exactly how it is caused.
Risk factors include smoking, a lack of exercise, heavy drinking, diabetes, air pollution and ageing.
Separate studies have also found links between where you live and your health.
A 2022 study revealed that where you choose to live can have a big impact on your chances of getting pregnant.
People who live in poorer neighbourhoods are up to 25 per cent less likely to be able to get pregnant than those living in richer areas, research has found.
While research from the US has suggested that your postcode is the greatest predictor of your overall health, including how long you’re going to live for.