Exposure to nature may reduce the risk of neurodegenerative disease-led hospitalization in elderly: JAMA Study

The findings of a recent cohort study published in JAMA Network Open suggest that some natural environments are associated with a decreased risk of ADRD and PD hospitalization. Neurological disorders are the leading cause of disability and the second leading cause of death worldwide. The most prevalent neurological diseases in the US are Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) and Parkinson's disease (PD).

The researchers wanted to evaluate associations of natural environments with hospital admissions for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) among older adults in the US.

This open cohort study included fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years or older who lived in the contiguous US from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2016. Beneficiaries entered the cohort on January 1, 2000, or January 1 of the year after enrollment. Data from US Medicare enrollment and Medicare Provider Analysis and Review files, which contain information about individual-level covariates and all hospital admissions for Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries, were analyzed between January 2021 and September 2022.

The team found no association between the percentage of park and blue space cover with ADRD hospitalization. In contrast, normalized difference vegetation index or NDVI, percentage park cover, and blue space cover were associated with a decrease in PD hospitalizations. Patterns of effect modification by demographics differed between exposures.

The authors note that as life expectancy increases globally, policymakers should consider interventions of natural environments to prevent ADRD and PD.

Reference:

Jochem O. Klompmaker et al, JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(12):e2247664. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.47664