CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., March 3, 2021 - The integrated Translational Health Research Institute of Virginia (iTHRIV), a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded Clinical and Translational Science Award hub, has awarded $80,000 to two Charlottesville community-focused research projects, one by the Jefferson Area Board for Aging (JABA) aimed at studying the benefits of various nature-based activities for seniors.

“Isolation, any amount of time, can negatively impact emotional, physical and cognitive health," says Marta Keane, CEO of JABA. " And the extreme social isolation created by COVID could exacerbate these risks. That's why it is more important than ever to investigate the impact that purposeful nature experiences could have on seniors’ well-being.”

Keane has partnered with Jenny Roe, PhD, director of the UVA School of Architecture’s Center of Design and Health, and Christopher Neale, PhD, to study whether various nature-based activities can lead to improvements in emotional, physical and cognitive health in seniors.

Early research indicates that there are many benefits to using of outdoor space to increase social interactions in a COVID-safe manner.

“We know that interacting with nature – in gardens, in parks, in wilder settings – builds emotional, cognitive, physical and social wellbeing," says Roe. "At a time when so many older people are suffering from lack of mobility and social isolation, our research will help identify what type of nature intervention works best for health and for whom. That is, comparing a physical approach – walking in nature – versus a cerebral approach – engaging in environmental citizen science – versus a nurturing approach – gardening and growing plants.”

Study participants will engage in activities including walking, planting and various “citizen science” projects. The researchers will then evaluate metrics related to contemplative, physical and cognitive health. Keane hopes that the team’s work will have positive effects not only for JABA-service users but also for seniors nationwide.

Read full UVAHealth news story here.