Monash team finds going to park may be key to avoiding dementia

The space around where we live and how it affects our daily life can play a big role in our risk of getting dementia in later years, a Monash University team has discovered.

Reducing the risk of dementia could well be a walk in the park.

New research led by a team at Monash University has found that people living close to green space and those in suburbs with lower crime could have fewer dementia risk factors, findings that warrant further consideration by governments.

Dementia is an umbrella term that describes a progressive loss of thinking or memory that affects daily life. A leading cause of death, it currently affects 421,000 Australians.

An area with less access to green space and higher crime rates may pose barriers to participation in or adherence to exercise or social engagement.

Senior author Matthew Pase from the Turner Institute at Monash University said this new study continued the team’s work on understanding how specific neighbourhood characteristics such as safety and access to parks impact risk and cognition.

Published in Preventive Medicine Reports, the study was led by Marina Cavuoto.

Dr Cavuoto is a senior research fellow and clinical neuropsychologist at the National Ageing Research Institute in Melbourne.

The team hopes the results can help inform targeted future dementia risk reduction interventions.

The research found people who live close to parks in suburbs with low crime rates have fewer dementia risk factors. Picture: iStock

“Practical steps that governments could take to improve access to parkland and improve safety within local areas may result in healthier lifestyles, which in turn may reduce risk factors for dementia,” Dr Cavuoto said.

“For example, an area with less access to green space, and higher crime rates may pose barriers to an exercise or social engagement program.”

Prof Pase said having lots of little parks that are closer to more people might potentially be better than having one big park that is further away.

He said more crime could cause people to exercise less and to avoid going out and socialising and using public spaces.

“Higher crime could also impact people’s sleep and unhealthy coping behaviours such as smoking,” Prof Pase said.

The answer may be lots of little parks that are closer to more people to encourage more exercise. Picture: Nicki Connolly

“Perceptions of crime may also cause psychological stress, which we have shown previously to be associated with dementia risk.”

Prof Pase said it was also possible that people who were more educated, which protects against dementia, had the option to choose to live in areas with less crime.

He said regardless of where Victorians lived, improving healthy behaviours may help protect against developing dementia.

These include managing blood pressure, maintaining a healthy body weight and correcting hearing impairment.

Professor Pase said it was also important not to smoke, to be active, to look after mental health, manage diabetes and get adequate sleep. He also stressed the importance of being socially active.

The researchers said future programs looking to improve modifiable dementia risk factors should consider the influence of neighbourhoods.