Ageing well could depend on where you live

Living in walkable, green, and well-connected neighbourhoods – especially those with access to public transport, commercial services, and blue or green spaces – may help protect against memory and cognitive decline.

That’s the key finding of a 13-year study of older Australians that essentially revealed where you live may play a powerful role in how your brain ages.

The researchers, from the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA) at UNSW Sydney and the Australian Catholic University (ACU), found study participants living in more densely populated, greener areas with better access to services were less likely to develop dementia.

Conversely, those exposed to higher levels of air pollution – particularly fine particulate matter – were more likely to experience cognitive decline.

The findings, published in the journal, Alzheimer’s and Dementia, resulted from a study of more than 1,000 adults aged 70 and older who were followed for nearly 14 years to investigate the factors that predict cognitive stability, decline, and even improvement.

What the researchers found exciting was that their research confirmed your living environment plays a major role in wellbeing while ageing.

“The environment you live in isn’t just a backdrop to healthy, it’s a key ingredient,” said lead author, Professor Ester Cerin, from ACU. “Neighbourhoods that encourage activity, reduce stress, and provide better air quality seem to offer real protection for the ageing brain.”

Access to public transport, parkland, and coastal or blue spaces were also linked to a greater chance of recovering from mild cognitive impairment, a precursor to dementia.

This is a hopeful message. Even in later life, living in the right environment can offer a second chance for cognitive improvement, not just delay deterioration.

The study builds on similar findings from other research and is particularly important as it is based on “rigorous cognitive assessments” across a long period of time.

The research highlights the potential for urban planning and environmental policy to shape brain health outcomes in communities.

The history of the study is interesting. When it began in 2005, the researchers aimed to understand why some people maintained cognitive function while others declined.

“This new analysis gives us deeper insight into how the built and natural environments play a role,” CHeBA co-director, Professor Perminder Sachdev, said.