Link to study on enjoying nature to reduce inflammation levels

Many studies have linked exposure to the natural world to improved physical and mental health, but a new study from Cornell University links the enjoyment of nature to a specific biological process—inflammation.

The study, led by Anthony Wong, professor of psychology and director of the Center for Integrated Developmental Sciences (CIDS) in the School of Human Ecology, showed that more frequent positive contact with nature was independently associated with lower levels of three different levels of stress. Type of circulation. markers of inflammation.

“By focusing on these markers of inflammation, this research provides a biological explanation for why nature can improve health, specifically showing how it can prevent or control inflammatory diseases,” Wong said. Chronic inflammation, such as heart disease and diabetes. “

Postdoctoral fellows Dakota Cintron and Gabriel Fuligni are co-authors of the book “Engaging Nature and Pro-Inflammatory Biology.” Released on March 29 Brain, behavior and immunity.

Wong says he continues to research the area out of curiosity as much as for other reasons.

“Part of it was inspired by this place in Ithaca, surrounded by nature,” he said. “I grew up in Los Angeles, and people lived around cars and traffic. So to me, this research is really trying to answer the question: ‘What are the health benefits of nature?’”

Cintron is a current member of CIDS; Fulini joined the team as an undergraduate after writing a paper on the topic in one of Wong’s classes.

In their study the team used the second wave of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) Survey, a longitudinal study of health and aging in the United States. The first wave of the survey was conducted in 1994-95, and the second wave was conducted 10 years later.

Wong’s analysis focused on 1,244 participants who participated in the biomarker substudy during the second wave, 57% of whom were female and had a mean age of 54.5 years, who completed a physical health assessment and who provided a comprehensive biological assessment: A physical Examination, urine sample and morning empty stomach blood.

Participants were asked how often they experienced outdoor activities and how much they enjoyed them.

“It’s not just how often people spend time outdoors, but also the quality of their experiences,” says Wong, who admits she sometimes feels guilty for not fully immersing herself in nature. He recalls a recent warm day when he walked along Lake Beebe while playing on his phone, which dampened the enjoyment of the experience.

“I realized that physically I was in a beautiful natural environment, but mentally I was somewhere else,” says Wong. “It reminds me to be more focused and engaged in nature and really enjoy the benefits.”

Concentrations of three inflammatory biomarkers—interleukin-6 (IL-6), a cytokine involved in the regulation of systemic inflammatory processes, and C-reactive protein, which is synthesized by IL-6 and other cytokines; Proteins found in plasma–measured and structural equation modeling were performed to identify relationships between natural concentrations and three biomarkers.

Wong says that even when controlling for other variables such as demographics, health behaviors, medications and overall health, his team found that reduced inflammation levels were consistently associated with more frequent active contact in nature.

“We tried to eliminate this finding by controlling for various factors, but we could not eliminate it,” he said. “So this is a very strong finding. It’s this connection between exposure and experience: It’s only when you have both, when you’re engaged and having fun doing it, that you see these benefits.”

Wong says it’s important to practice mindfulness while enjoying the natural world.

“Remind yourself that it’s not just the quantity of nature, it’s the quality,” he said.