So THAT'S why we like to live beside the seaside! Having a home within 330 yards of water may reduce the risk of mental decline, study finds
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Living near water could be the secret to a healthy and happy life in old age, according to new research. Scientists have found that middle-aged and older people in the UK who live near the sea, lakes or rivers – so-called 'blue spaces' – are less likely to suffer age-related mental decline.
![[Researchers have found sounds and sights of crashing waves and flowing water may also be an important factor in reducing stress levels and helping to improve mood among residents (file photo)]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/07/23/88397673-14169575-Too_much_coffee_can_speed_up_the_cognitive_decline_that_many_peo-a-154_1733613776799.jpg)
They had a 13.2 per cent lower risk of cognitive decline as measured by tests of memory and reaction times, according to the research reported in the journal, Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. The neurology experts behind the research claim that humid air around large expanses of water may limit air pollution which has previously been linked to age-related mental decline.
The sounds and sights of crashing waves and flowing water may also be an important factor in reducing stress levels and helping to improve mood among residents, added the researchers. Test results from 35,669 men and women in the vast UK Biobank database were then matched with home addresses and the proximity to lakes, rivers, or the sea. The experts measured memory, reaction times and verbal and numerical reasoning.
Exposure to air pollution was calculated for each address. The researchers also took into account a range of factors, from age, education and weight, to diet, blood pressure and drinking habits. The surprising findings show that the more blue space around the home, the lesser the mental decline. Those with high levels of blue space within 300 metres of their home had a 13.2 per cent lower risk of cognitive impairment.
