Living in a busy area ‘raises depression risk’

LIVING in a polluted and busy area could raise the risk of suffering depression in old age by a third, a study has found.

People over the age of 50 who were exposed to ‘nuisances’ in their neighbourhood, including pollution, noise and crime, were more likely to suffer ill mental health.

Scientists believe exposure to toxic air could directly alter the brain, while noise and crime may stress people out and damage their mental health in a more obvious way. Other findings suggest living in a place with good transport links, a pharmacy and supermarket protect against poor mental health later in life.

The University of Edinburgh studied more than 10,000 people, aged 50 to 95, publishing their findings in the journal Preventive Medicine. The participants from 13 European countries were quizzed every two years for a decade starting in 2004. A number of elements were assessed, including the environment of their current neighbourhood and where they lived growing up, too.

To capture participants’ level of depression, they rated 12 measures, such as irritability, appetite and tearfulness, on a 12point scale.

Most people (71.2%) did not report any neighbourhood nuisances. Almost a quarter (23.2%) had clinical depressive symptoms at the start, with a further 13.6% developing them during follow-up.

Signs of neighbourhood nuisance increased the risk of depression by 36%, with only slight variations between each country. Whereas participants with sufficient access to services had 22% lower odds for reporting depression over the years. The researchers also found that stressors – such as a low income – during childhood significantly raised the risk of depression.

But those who grew up with better economic circumstances were still at a high risk of developing depression when living in a noisy and polluted area as adults.

The authors, led by clinical psychologist Gergo Baranyi, wrote: ‘Providing access to neighbourhood amenities and public transportation, as well as reducing environmental problems in the residential area, present public health opportunities to support healthy ageing.

‘Previous research suggested adverse effects of neighbourhood problems on mental health among older adults, which we were able to confirm.’

Possible mechanisms contributing to higher risk of depression might lead through direct pathways, such as higher levels of inflammation in the blood vessels caused by air pollution, or the stress from living in a noisy or dangerous area, the researchers said.

Health experts have urged city planners to design greener cities to improve the public’s mental health.