Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Melchor Fernández Almagro, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Melchor Fernández Almagro, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
Environ Res. 2017 May;155:268-275. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2017.02.017. Epub 2017 Mar 10.
Urban residents may experience cognitive fatigue and little opportunity for mental restoration due to a lack of access to nature. Natural outdoor environments (NOE) are thought to be beneficial for cognitive functioning, but underlying mechanisms are not clear.
To investigate the long-term association between NOE and cognitive function, and its potential mediators.
This cross-sectional study was based on adult participants of the Positive Health Effects of the Natural Outdoor Environment in Typical Populations in Different Regions in Europe (PHENOTYPE) project. Data were collected in Barcelona, Spain; Doetinchem, the Netherlands; and Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom. We assessed residential distance to NOE, residential surrounding greenness, perceived amount of neighborhood NOE, and engagement with NOE. Cognitive function was assessed with the Color Trails Test (CTT). Mediation analysis was undertaken following Baron and Kenny.
Each 100m increase in residential distance to NOE was associated with a longer CTT completion time of 1.50% (95% CI 0.13, 2.89). No associations were found for other NOE indicators and cognitive function. Neighborhood social cohesion was (marginally) significantly associated with both residential distance to NOE and CTT completion time, but no evidence for mediation was found. Nor were there indications for mediation by physical activity, social interaction with neighbors, loneliness, mental health, air pollution worries, or noise annoyance.
Our findings provide some indication that proximity to nature may benefit cognitive function. We could not establish which mechanisms may explain this relationship.
由于缺乏接触自然的机会，城市居民可能会经历认知疲劳和很少的精神恢复机会。自然户外环境（NOE）被认为对认知功能有益，但潜在机制尚不清楚。
调查 NOE 与认知功能之间的长期关联及其潜在的中介因素。
本横断面研究基于欧洲不同地区典型人群自然户外环境对健康的积极影响（PHENOTYPE）项目的成年参与者。数据采集于西班牙巴塞罗那、荷兰多廷赫姆和英国斯托克顿。我们评估了居住距离到 NOE、居住周围的绿化程度、感知到的邻里 NOE 数量以及与 NOE 的互动。认知功能通过色迹测试（CTT）进行评估。按照 Baron 和 Kenny 的方法进行中介分析。
居住距离到 NOE 每增加 100 米，CTT 完成时间就会延长 1.50%（95%CI 0.13，2.89）。其他 NOE 指标与认知功能之间没有关联。邻里社会凝聚力与居住距离到 NOE 和 CTT 完成时间均呈（边缘）显著相关，但未发现中介作用的证据。也没有证据表明中介作用与身体活动、与邻居的社会互动、孤独感、心理健康、空气污染担忧或噪声烦恼有关。
我们的研究结果表明，接近自然可能有益于认知功能。我们无法确定哪些机制可以解释这种关系。
