Environment and cognitive aging: A cross-sectional study of place of residence and cognitive performance in the Irish longitudinal study on aging.

Cassarino, Marica; O’Sullivan, Vincent; Kenny, Rose Anne; Setti, Annalisa

doi:10.1037/neu0000253

Cited by 50 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 112 publications

(179 reference statements)

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“…These results correspond to some of the evidence in the literature (Cassarino et al, 2016, Nunes et al, 2010, Russ et al, 2012) as well as our previous analysis which showed higher odds of cognitive impairment in areas with low levels of land use mix (Wu et al, 2015b). However, a high REAT score, which indicates poor quality of micro-scale environment, was associated with lower odds of cognitive impairment and dementia.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Evidence from epidemiological research supports the presence of urban/rural differences in dementia prevalence and cognitive function (Cassarino et al, 2016, Nunes et al, 2010, Russ et al, 2012). Area deprivation and some physical and social environmental factors such as features of land use, access to local services and resources, have also been related to cognitive function in older people (Clarke et al, 2012; Lang et al, 2008; Watts et al, 2015; Wu et al, 2015a, Wu et al, 2015b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Micro-scale environment and mental health in later life: Results from the Cognitive Function and Ageing Study II (CFAS II)

Prina

Jones

et al. 2017

Journal of Affective Disorders

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BackgroundPoor micro-scale environmental features, such as graffiti and broken windows, have been associated with crime and signs of social disorder with a potential impact on mental health. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between micro-scale environment and mental health problems in later life, including cognitive (cognitive impairment and dementia) and common mental disorders (depressive and anxiety symptoms).MethodsThe method of visual image audits was used to collect micro-scale environmental data for 3590 participants in the Cognitive Function and Ageing Study II, a population-based multicentre cohort of people aged 65 or above in England. Multilevel logistic regression was used to examine the associations between the quality of micro-scale environment and mental health problems taking into account urban/rural difference.ResultsPoor quality of micro-scale environment was associated with nearly 20% increased odds of depressive (OR: 1.19; 95% CI: 0.99, 1.44) and anxiety symptoms (OR: 1.17; 95% CI: 0.99, 1.38) while the direction of association for cognitive disorders differed across urban and rural settings. Although higher odds of cognitive disorders were found in rural settings, living in a poor quality environment was associated with nearly twice higher odds of cognitive impairment (OR: 1.88; 95% CI: 1.18, 2.97) in urban conurbations but 20% lower odds in rural areas (OR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.57, 1.11).LimitationsThe causal direction could not be fully determined due to the cross-sectional nature of the data. The visual nature of the environmental assessment tool means it likely does not fully capture features related to the availability of local support services, or opportunities for social participation and interaction.ConclusionsThe quality of micro-scale environment appears to be important to mental health in older people. Interventions may incorporate the environmental aspect to reduce cognitive and common mental disorders.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Micro-scale environment and mental health in later life: Results from the Cognitive Function and Ageing Study II (CFAS II)

Prina

Jones

et al. 2017

Journal of Affective Disorders

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“…In line with these results, Chapman and Underwood (1998) reported shorter fixations for drivers in urban rather than rural environments, suggesting more exploratory scanning strategies for complex environments. In our recent work (Cassarino et al, 2016), we showed that urban healthy older people had better executive functions than people living in rural areas after controlling for socio-economic, health, and lifestyle confounders, further indicating that different environments could be associated with distinct perceptual and cognitive abilities. Although the study did not manipulate environmental complexity directly, the results suggest a direct association between living in a complex environment and cognitive functioning in older age.…”

Section: Complexity and Cognitive Performancementioning

confidence: 68%

“…The plausibility of a direct environmental impact on cognition has been supported by animal studies (Engineer et al, 2004; Herring et al, 2009; Hannan, 2014), as well as recent epidemiological evidence on geographical variations of cognitive functioning in aging when socio-economic and lifestyle factors were controlled for (Wu et al, 2015; Cassarino et al, 2016). Experimental evidence on environmental restorativeness for cognitive skills, i.e., the potential for natural, green environments to restore depleted attentional capacities as described within attention restoration theory (Kaplan and Kaplan, 1982; Kaplan, 1995; Hartig et al, 2003; Berman et al, 2008), also suggests a direct link between environment and cognition in older adults (Gamble et al, 2014).…”

Section: Environmental Measures Linking Complexity To Cognitive Agingmentioning

confidence: 93%

Complexity As Key to Designing Cognitive-Friendly Environments for Older People

Cassarino

Setti

2016

Front. Psychol.

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The lived environment is the arena where our cognitive skills, preferences, and attitudes come together to determine our ability to interact with the world. The mechanisms through which lived environments can benefit cognitive health in older age are yet to be fully understood. The existing literature suggests that environments which are perceived as stimulating, usable and aesthetically appealing can improve or facilitate cognitive performance both in young and older age. Importantly, optimal stimulation for cognition seems to depend on experiencing sufficiently stimulating environments while not too challenging. Environmental complexity is an important contributor to determining whether an environment provides such an optimal stimulation. The present paper reviews a selection of studies which have explored complexity in relation to perceptual load, environmental preference and perceived usability to propose a framework which explores direct and indirect environmental influences on cognition, and to understand these influences in relation to aging processes. We identify ways to define complexity at different environmental scales, going from micro low-level perceptual features of scenes, to design qualities of proximal environments (e.g., streets, neighborhoods), to broad geographical areas (i.e., natural vs. urban environments). We propose that studying complexity at these different scales will provide new insight into the design of cognitive-friendly environments.

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“…Recently researchers have approached to examine not only influence of factors such as gender, age or level of education, but also have aimed to include the effect of neighborhood environment and lifestyle on cognitive functioning and decline of cognitive functions, or well-being and health in later life in the picture (Besser, McDonald, Song, Kukull, & Rodriguez, 2017;Cassarino, O'Sullivan, Kenny, & Setti, 2016; Weuve, Barnes, Evans, & Mendes de Leon, 2015;Eibich, Krekel, Demuth, & Wagner, 2016;Lee & Waite, 2017;Saenz, Downer, Garcia, & Wong, 2017;Watts, Ferdous, Diaz Moore, & Burns, 2015;Wörn, Ellwardt, Aartsen, & Huisman, 2017;Wu et al, 2017). Schooler (1984) presented a theory of environmental influences on cognitive functions, which may be applied in the case of busy nature of urban areas that makes city residents learn quicker pace in solving tasks.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perception Of Life Pace In The City And Countryside Among Older People

Frydrychová¹,

Horáková²,

Vidovičová³

et al. 2017

European Proceedings of Social and Behavioural Sciences

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Life pace in cities is often commented as very busy especially by people from smaller settlements. It is not clear whether this proverbial image, a stereotype, is based on prevalent subjective views in the elderly. The purpose of this study is to examine the occurrence of stereotypes of hectic city and tranquil countryside in older persons. The sample consisted of 131 retired healthy older persons of 60-74 years of age (M=68.47, SD=3.71) with the same place of residence in the capital city of Prague, mid-sized towns or villages of the Czech Republic since their age of 40 years. The participants underwent a structured interview and evaluated life pace on 4-point scale. Data were analyzed with non-parametric methods. Our results suggest that older persons regardless their place of residence consider Prague more hectic compared to towns and countryside. Non-Praguers, especially the ones with lower education, perceive Prague significantly more hectic compared to persons living in the capital itself. Recent visitors to Prague perceive the capital as more hectic than visitors with a further off experience.Our results are in accord with the proverbial stereotypes of the pace of life in different types of settlement. As time pressure and busy environment, hectic "nature" may in long-term affect individual emotional and cognitive development even in late adulthood, these influences and their impacts need to be yet researched more in detail.

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Environment and cognitive aging: A cross-sectional study of place of residence and cognitive performance in the Irish longitudinal study on aging.

Abstract: Our findings suggest higher cognitive functioning for urban residents, although childhood residence modulates this association. Suggestions for further developments of these results are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record

Cited by 50 publications

References 112 publications

Micro-scale environment and mental health in later life: Results from the Cognitive Function and Ageing Study II (CFAS II)

Micro-scale environment and mental health in later life: Results from the Cognitive Function and Ageing Study II (CFAS II)

Complexity As Key to Designing Cognitive-Friendly Environments for Older People

Perception Of Life Pace In The City And Countryside Among Older People

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