Spending Time in Nature May Slow Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s Disease Progression | National Institute of Environmental Health Scien
Source: https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/translational/peph/podcasts/2023/apr14_nature
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:15
Spending Time in Nature May Slow Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s Disease Progression | National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
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Spending Time in Nature May Slow Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s Disease Progression
April 14, 2023
Download:
Transcript
Audio
Interviewee:
Jochem Klompmaker, Ph.D.
In this episode, we’ll hear from Jochem Klompmaker, Ph.D., a research fellow at Harvard University who led one of the largest studies to date examining the link between the natural environment and neurodegenerative disease risk. Klompmaker discusses how time spent in nature may protect against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s and the implications of his findings for creating greener communities.
Spending Time in Nature May Slow Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s Disease Progression
Neurodegenerative diseases affect millions of people worldwide. Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease are the most common types of neurodegenerative disease. Although there is no cure, research suggests that living in areas with more green and blue space – like grass, trees, lakes, and streams – may slow the progression of these brain disorders.
In this episode, we’ll hear from Jochem Klompmaker, Ph.D., a research fellow at Harvard University who led one of the
largest studies to date
examining the link between the natural environment and neurodegenerative disease risk. Klompmaker discusses how time spent in nature may protect against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s and the implications of his findings for creating greener communities.
Interviewee:
Jochem Klompmaker, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral fellow in the department of Environmental Health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. His research focuses on associations of exposure to natural environments, air pollution, and temperature with cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. He earned a master’s degree in toxicology and environmental health and doctoral degree in environmental epidemiology from Utrecht University, the Netherlands.
Resources:
Learn more about how the environment may play a role in
neurodegenerative diseases
at this NIEHS webpage.
Learn more about
Alzheimer's disease
and
Parkinson’s disease
from the National Institute on Aging.
Listen to past Environmental Health Chat episodes related to nature and health, including a 2021 episode about how greener communities are good for heart health and a 2017 episode highlighting the benefits of nature for children’s health.
References
Klompmaker JO, Laden F, Browning MHEM, Dominici F, Jimenez MP, Ogletree SS, Rigolon A, Zanobetti A, Hart JE, James P. 2022. Associations of Greenness, Parks, and Blue Space with Neurodegenerative Disease Hospitalizations Among Older US Adults. JAMA Netw Open. 5(12):e2247664. [
Abstract
Klompmaker JO, Laden F, Browning MHEM, Dominici F, Jimenez MP, Ogletree SS, Rigolon A, Zanobetti A, Hart JE, James P. 2022. Associations of Greenness, Parks, and Blue Space with Neurodegenerative Disease Hospitalizations Among Older US Adults. JAMA Netw Open. 5(12):e2247664.
] [
Full Text
Klompmaker JO, Laden F, Browning MHEM, Dominici F, Jimenez MP, Ogletree SS, Rigolon A, Zanobetti A, Hart JE, James P. 2022. Associations of Greenness, Parks, and Blue Space with Neurodegenerative Disease Hospitalizations Among Older US Adults. JAMA Netw Open. 5(12):e2247664.
]
Previous Podcast
Protecting Firefighter Health
Next Podcast
Reducing Exposure to Disinfection Byproducts in Drinking Water
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Last Reviewed: January 28, 2026
Skip Navigation
Spending Time in Nature May Slow Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s Disease Progression
Close the left navigation
Add
Partnerships for Environmental Public Health (PEPH)
Previous Podcast
Protecting Firefighter Health
Next Podcast
Reducing Exposure to Disinfection Byproducts in Drinking Water
Spending Time in Nature May Slow Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s Disease Progression
April 14, 2023
Download:
Transcript
Audio
Interviewee:
Jochem Klompmaker, Ph.D.
In this episode, we’ll hear from Jochem Klompmaker, Ph.D., a research fellow at Harvard University who led one of the largest studies to date examining the link between the natural environment and neurodegenerative disease risk. Klompmaker discusses how time spent in nature may protect against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s and the implications of his findings for creating greener communities.
Spending Time in Nature May Slow Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s Disease Progression
Neurodegenerative diseases affect millions of people worldwide. Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease are the most common types of neurodegenerative disease. Although there is no cure, research suggests that living in areas with more green and blue space – like grass, trees, lakes, and streams – may slow the progression of these brain disorders.
In this episode, we’ll hear from Jochem Klompmaker, Ph.D., a research fellow at Harvard University who led one of the
largest studies to date
examining the link between the natural environment and neurodegenerative disease risk. Klompmaker discusses how time spent in nature may protect against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s and the implications of his findings for creating greener communities.
Interviewee:
Jochem Klompmaker, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral fellow in the department of Environmental Health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. His research focuses on associations of exposure to natural environments, air pollution, and temperature with cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. He earned a master’s degree in toxicology and environmental health and doctoral degree in environmental epidemiology from Utrecht University, the Netherlands.
Resources:
Learn more about how the environment may play a role in
neurodegenerative diseases
at this NIEHS webpage.
Learn more about
Alzheimer's disease
and
Parkinson’s disease
from the National Institute on Aging.
Listen to past Environmental Health Chat episodes related to nature and health, including a 2021 episode about how greener communities are good for heart health and a 2017 episode highlighting the benefits of nature for children’s health.
References
Klompmaker JO, Laden F, Browning MHEM, Dominici F, Jimenez MP, Ogletree SS, Rigolon A, Zanobetti A, Hart JE, James P. 2022. Associations of Greenness, Parks, and Blue Space with Neurodegenerative Disease Hospitalizations Among Older US Adults. JAMA Netw Open. 5(12):e2247664. [
Abstract
Klompmaker JO, Laden F, Browning MHEM, Dominici F, Jimenez MP, Ogletree SS, Rigolon A, Zanobetti A, Hart JE, James P. 2022. Associations of Greenness, Parks, and Blue Space with Neurodegenerative Disease Hospitalizations Among Older US Adults. JAMA Netw Open. 5(12):e2247664.
] [
Full Text
Klompmaker JO, Laden F, Browning MHEM, Dominici F, Jimenez MP, Ogletree SS, Rigolon A, Zanobetti A, Hart JE, James P. 2022. Associations of Greenness, Parks, and Blue Space with Neurodegenerative Disease Hospitalizations Among Older US Adults. JAMA Netw Open. 5(12):e2247664.
]
Previous Podcast
Protecting Firefighter Health
Next Podcast
Reducing Exposure to Disinfection Byproducts in Drinking Water
Back
to Top
Last Reviewed: January 28, 2026