Abstract
Healthcare providers may not be aware of increasing research evidence suggesting that exposure to nature can affect the brain. This integrative review of publications reporting evidence that nature exposure may influence brain function identified numerous articles on this topic that were found in non-healthcare journals that are probably not read by healthcare providers. Though being in nature may rarely result in negative outcomes such as infections from rabid animals, mosquitos, or ticks, overwhelming evidence suggest positive brain health benefits of nature exposure. Exposure to nature could affect neurobehavior, cognitive function, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, cerebrovascular conditions, Alzheimer’s disease, and various neuropsychiatric disorders. The risks and benefits of solar exposure in addition to it vitamin D-making powers are described. Research evidence supports numerous brain health benefits of being in nature in both blue and green spaces; however, further investigation is needed with stronger designs to identify causal mechanisms, pathways of relationships, and variations by context and populations and with different health outcomes. Longitudinal studies and randomized clinical trials are needed with more valid, reliable measures. This review of the research provides a basis upon which to continue to develop future research and recommendations for public health policy and public dissemination to promote brain health and disease prevention.
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Brewer-Smyth, K. (2022). The Healing Power of Nature on the Brain: Healing in Green Spaces and Blue Spaces. In: Adverse Childhood Experiences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-08801-8_15
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