Land use mix and physical activity in middle-aged and older adults: a longitudinal study examining changes in land use mix in two Dutch cohorts

Longitudinal study of changes in greenness exposure, physical activity and sedentary behavior in the ORISCAV-LUX cohort study

BACKGROUND

Greenness exposure has been associated with many health benefits, for example through the pathway of providing opportunities for physical activity (PA). Beside the limited body of longitudinal research, most studies overlook to what extent different types of greenness exposures may be associated with varying levels of PA and sedentary behavior (SB). In this study, we investigated associations of greenness characterized by density, diversity and vegetation type with self-reported PA and SB over a 9-year period, using data from the ORISCAV-LUX study (2007-2017, n = 628).

METHODS

The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) short form was used to collect PA and SB outcomes. PA was expressed as MET-minutes/week and log-transformed, and SB was expressed as sitting time in minutes/day. Geographic Information Systems (ArcGIS Pro, ArcMap) were used to collect the following exposure variables: Tree Cover Density (TCD), Soil-adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI), and Green Land Use Mix (GLUM). The exposure variables were derived from publicly available sources using remote sensing and cartographic resources. Greenness exposure was calculated within 1000m street network buffers around participants' exact residential address.

RESULTS

Using Random Effects Within-Between (REWB) models, we found evidence of negative within-individual associations of TCD with PA (β = - 2.60, 95% CI - 4.75; - 0.44), and negative between-individual associations of GLUM and PA (β = - 2.02, 95% CI - 3.73; - 0.32). There was no evidence for significant associations between greenness exposure and SB. Significant interaction effects by sex were present for the associations between TCD and both PA and SB. Neighborhood socioeconomic status (NSES) did not modify the effect of greenness exposure on PA and SB in the 1000 m buffer.

DISCUSSION

Our results showed that the relationship between greenness exposure and PA depended on the type of greenness measure used, which stresses the need for the use of more diverse and complementary greenness measures in future research. Tree vegetation and greenness diversity, and changes therein, appeared to relate to PA, with distinct effects among men and women. Replication studies are needed to confirm the relevance of using different greenness measures to understand its' different associations with PA and SB.

Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status, Green Space, and Walkability and Risk for Falls Among Postmenopausal Women: The Women's Health Initiative

PURPOSE

This study estimated associations between neighborhood socioeconomic status (NSES), walkability, green space, and incident falls among postmenopausal women and evaluated modifiers of these associations, including study arm, race and ethnicity, baseline household income, baseline walking, age at enrollment, baseline low physical functioning, baseline fall history, climate region, and urban-rural residence.

METHODS

The Women's Health Initiative recruited a national sample of postmenopausal women (50-79 years) across 40 U.S. clinical centers and conducted yearly assessments from 1993 to 2005 (n = 161,808). Women reporting a history of hip fracture or walking limitations were excluded, yielding a final sample of 157,583 participants. Falling was reported annually. NSES (income/wealth, education, occupation), walkability (population density, diversity of land cover, nearby high-traffic roadways), and green space (exposure to vegetation) were calculated annually and categorized into tertiles (low, intermediate, high). Generalized estimating equations assessed longitudinal relationships.

RESULTS

NSES was associated with falling before adjustment (high vs. low, odds ratio, 1.01; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-1.01). Walkability was significantly associated with falls after adjustment (high vs. low, odds ratio, 0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.98-0.99). Green space was not associated with falling before or after adjustment. Study arm, race and ethnicity, household income, age, low physical functioning, fall history, and climate region modified the relationship between NSES and falling. Race and ethnicity, age, fall history, and climate region modified relationships between walkability and green space and falling.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results did not show strong associations of NSES, walkability, or green space with falling. Future research should incorporate granular environmental measures that may directly relate to physical activity and outdoor engagement.

Neighbourhood walkability in relation to cognitive functioning in patients with disorders along the heart-brain axis

This study examined associations of neighbourhood walkability with cognitive functioning (i.e., global cognition, memory, language, attention-psychomotor speed, and executive functioning) in participants without or with either heart failure, carotid occlusive disease, or vascular cognitive impairment. Neighbourhood walkability at baseline was positively associated with global cognition and attention-psychomotor speed. These associations were stronger in patients with vascular cognitive impairment. Individuals who live in residential areas with higher walkability levels were less likely to have impairments in language and executive functioning at two-year follow-up. These findings highlight the importance of the built environment for cognitive functioning in healthy and vulnerable groups.

Decline in older adults' daily mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic: the role of individual and built environment factors

BACKGROUND

Extensive research has shown that the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically impacted the daily mobility of older adults. However, very little attention has been paid to the role of individual and built environmental factors in decline in older adults' daily mobility during the pandemic.

METHODS

Based on a cohort survey of 741 older adults in Hong Kong, we conducted a one-way ANOVA to explore the differences in determinants (individual or environmental factors) of older adults' daily mobility between before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, multilevel linear regression was performed to examine how individual characteristics and built environment factors are associated with changes in older adults' daily mobility during the pandemic.

RESULTS

Results show that the duration of active travel declined from 174.72 to 76.92 min per week, and that the public transport use frequency decreased from an average of 6.14 to 3.96 trips per week during the COVID-19 pandemic (before the rollout of vaccination programme). We also found residential density (p < 0.05) and the number of bus stop was negatively associated with the decline in their active travel (p < 0.01), while a higher destination mix was associated with more significant decrease in active travel (p < 0.01). A higher availability of recreational facilities in neighbourhoods was associated with a greater decrease in public transport use (p < 0.05). In addition, those who were older or having depressive symptoms, which are considered a vulnerable group, were negatively associated with decrease in their mobility (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Maintaining mobility and social interactions are crucial for older adults' health during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study found that individual and environmental factors differentially affected older adults' active travel and public transport use during the pandemic. Our findings contribute to understanding the COVID-19 impact on daily mobility in older adults and support more effective active travel promotion policies in the post-pandemic future.

Neighbourhood correlates of average population walking: using aggregated, anonymised mobile phone data to identify where people walk

Understanding and monitoring socio-spatial patterns of population walking mobility can inform urban planning and geographically targeted health promotion strategies aimed at increasing population levels of physical activity. In this study we use aggregated, anonymous mobile phone mobility data to examine the association between neighbourhood physical and social characteristics and residents' weekly walking behaviour across 313 neighbourhoods in a large metropolitan region of Queensland, Australia. We find that residents in neighbourhoods that are highly fragmented by streets with speed limits above 50 kmph, residents in neighbourhoods with high retail density and those living is economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods walk fewer kilometres and minutes on average per week than their counterparts. These findings can inform urban planning policy on the minimum specifications required in newly developing neighbourhoods and provide targets for retro-fitting features into existing neighbourhoods.

Spatial Disparity of Visitors Changes during Particulate Matter Warning Using Big Data Focused on Seoul, Korea

This study examined the changes in the number of visitors to regions during periods of high particulate matter (PM) concentrations in Seoul and analyzed the regional differences of these changes. Further, it examined the spatial characteristics that affect these regional differences. This study mapped the regional differences by conducting a spatial cluster analysis using GIS and examined factors affecting the regional differences using logistic regression analysis. The visiting population data used in this study were obtained from the Big Data on the de facto population measured every hour at mobile base stations, and all analyses were conducted in terms of weekdays and weekends. The results indicated that the visiting population decreases significantly on weekdays when there are high PM concentrations; however, visits increase on weekends, even during periods of high PM concentrations. Moreover, there was a huge regional gap in visiting population changes. Regions with more commercial use, higher bus accessibility, and better pedestrian environment (pedestrian paths, Walk Score) were more likely to be hotspots, whereas regions with high residential and industrial use were more likely to be cold spots. These results can be used as the basic data for PM policies based on regional characteristics.

Exploring the Mediating Effect of Physical Activities on Built Environment and Obesity for Elderly People: Evidence From Shanghai, China

There is still a scarcity of literature on the specific mechanisms of the linkage between the built environment and obesity. As a result, this study investigated whether and how physical activities mediate the associations between the objective built environment and the BMI of elderly people. To investigate the effect of the duration and intensity of physical activity on the effect of the built environment, the study made use of the bootstrap method. In general, we discovered that physical activity duration has a huge mediating effect on the elderly people in Shanghai, especially with respect to the density and accessibility of facilities (gyms, parks, fast-food restaurants) that can greatly stimulate physical activity in elderly people to reduce their BMI. There were both direct and indirect effects on their BMI, which means that the health benefits of green spaces for older people may be more complicated than first thought.

Associations of changes in neighbourhood walkability with changes in walking activity in older adults: a fixed effects analysis

Background

Supporting older adults to engage in physically active lifestyles requires supporting environments. Walkable environments may increase walking activity in older adults, but evidence for this subgroup is scarce, and longitudinal studies are lacking. This study therefore examined whether changes in neighbourhood walkability were associated with changes in walking activity in older adults, and whether this association differed by individual-level characteristics and by contextual conditions beyond the built environment.

Methods

Data from 668 participants (57.8–93.4 years at baseline) across three waves (2005/06, 2008/09 and 2011/12) of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) were used. These individuals did not relocate during follow-up. Self-reported outdoor walking activity in minutes per week was assessed using the LASA Physical Activity Questionnaire. Composite exposure measures of neighbourhood walkability (range: 0 (low)-100 (high)) within 500-m Euclidean buffer zones around each participant’s residential address were constructed by combining objectively measured high-resolution Geographic Information System data on population density, retail and service destination density, land use mix, street connectivity, green space density, and sidewalk density. Fixed effects linear regression analyses were applied, adjusted for relevant time-varying confounders.

Results

Changes in neighbourhood walkability were not statistically significantly associated with changes in walking activity in older adults (β_500m = − 0.99, 95% CI = -6.17–4.20). The association of changes in neighbourhood walkability with changes in walking activity did not differ by any of the individual-level characteristics (i.e., age, sex, educational level, cognitive impairment, mobility disability, and season) and area-level characteristics (i.e., road traffic noise, air pollution, and socioeconomic status).

Conclusions

This study did not show evidence for an association between changes in neighbourhood walkability and changes in walking activity in older adults. If neighbourhood walkability and walking activity are causally linked, then changes in neighbourhood walkability between 2005/06 and 2011/12 might have been not substantial enough to produce meaningful changes in walking activity in older adults.

Neighbourhood physical environment, intrinsic capacity, and 4-year late-life functional ability trajectories of low-income Chinese older population: A longitudinal study with the parallel process of latent growth curve modelling

BACKGROUND

Knowledge of how intrinsic capacity (IC) and neighbourhood physical environment shape functional ability (FA) trajectories in later life remains understudied. We investigated four-year trajectories of IC and their impact on FA trajectories and the association between neighbourhood physical environment and FA trajectories among community-dwelling older adults in Hong Kong, China.

METHODS

We conducted a four-wave longitudinal study from 2014 to 2017 in Hong Kong with 2,081 adults aged 65 and above. FA was assessed by The Chinese Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale. We used cognition, affect, locomotion, sensory capacity, and vitality to capture the multiple domains of IC. Neighbourhood physical environment attributes included green space, land use diversity, and availability of facilities, assessed within 200- and 500-meter buffers of respondents' homes. We used the parallel process of latent growth curve model.

FINDINGS

IC (Unstandardized coefficient, β = -0.02, p<0.001) and FA (β = -0.20, p<0.001) each decreased significantly over time. Individuals with declines in IC experienced a faster decline in FA over time. Green space within a 200-meter buffer (β = 1.15, p = 0.023), the number of leisure (β = 0.03, p = .0.043) and public transport (β = 0.08, p = .0.003) facilities within a 500-meter buffer slowed the rate of FA decline.

INTERPRETATION

The level of FA decreased over time in later life. Changes in IC shaped FA trajectories. Increased residential green space and the number of leisure and public transport facilities in the neighbourhood may help slow FA decline over time.

FUNDING

The Hong Kong Housing Society.