So THAT’S WHY we like living by the sea! Having a home within 300 meters of water can reduce the risk of mental decline, research shows

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 Britain who live near the sea, lakes or rivers – so-called ‘blue spaces’ – are less likely to suffer age-related mental decline.

They had a 13.2 percent lower risk of cognitive decline, as measured by tests of memory and reaction times, according to the study reported in the journal Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety.

The neurological experts behind the study claim that moist air around large bodies of water can reduce air pollution, which has previously been linked to age-related mental decline.

The sounds and sights of crashing waves and rushing water may also be an important factor in reducing stress levels and helping improve mood among residents, the researchers said.

Test results from 35,669 men and women in the huge UK Biobank database were then linked to home addresses and 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 house, the less mental decline. Those with plenty of blue space within 300 meters of their home had a 13.2 percent lower risk of cognitive impairment.

Researchers have found that sounds and images of crashing waves and rushing water can also be an important factor in reducing stress levels and helping improve mood among residents (file photo)

The effect was even greater when air pollution was high. When airborne particulate matter levels were at their highest, a 10 percent increase in blue space within 300 meters of the home was associated with a 26.2 percent improvement in performance on the cognitive tests.

The researchers, all based at Fujian Medical University in China, said reductions in air pollution associated with blue spaces may be at least partly responsible for the findings.

Kaitai Yang, one of the co-authors of the study from Fujian Medical University.

‘Although blue space cannot directly eliminate air pollutants, the presence of moist air and adjacent wetlands can reduce levels of air pollutants.’

The researcher said the findings could have important implications for planners and policy makers in creating healthy cities of the future.

‘Blue space exerted a protective effect on cognitive function in the presence of high levels of air pollutants. In other words, blue space can mitigate the harmful effects of air pollution on cognitive functions,” he said.

‘These findings are likely to have significant implications for policymaking and the development of healthy cities. They emphasize the importance of considering air pollution when planning and designing blue space to maximize associated public health benefits.”