The Benefits of Nature for Mood and Cognition in Persons With and Without Parkinson's Disease

The Benefits of Nature for Mood and Cognition in Persons With and Without Parkinson's Disease

This online study aims to explore the benefits of nature for mood and cognition in persons with and without Parkinson's disease. For the purpose of this survey, "natural environment" refers to places that primarily consist of natural elements, such as vegetation, water bodies, and landscapes. This includes greenspaces (such as parks, gardens, neighborhood streets lined with trees, forests, or nature reserves) bluespaces (such as next to beaches, lakes, rivers, ponds, or waterfronts), and desert regions, among others.

To participate in this online study, you will need an email address, and a smartphone or laptop/desktop with internet access. If you are eligible to participate, you will be sent a link to an online survey (Qualtrics). We will ask questions about demographic and health information, followed by questions about exercise habits, exposure to natural environments (including greenspaces and bluespaces, among others), and questionnaires assessing mood, motivation, cognition, sleep, stress, quality of life, and related functions. The survey should take roughly 20-25 minutes to complete. This is an observational study only, and not an interventional study.

Compensation: A $15 Amazon gift card will be offered to those who complete the survey all the way through with good effort.

Inclusion Criteria:

For persons with Parkinson's disease:

• Participants must be at least 40 years old
• Have a diagnosis of idiopathic PD
• Be proficient English speakers
• Have functional vision
• Have internet access, and access to a smartphone/laptop/desktop

For persons without Parkinson's disease:

• Participants must be healthy middle-aged and older adults, with no diagnosis of neurological/neurodegenerative conditions
• Participants must be at least 40 years old
• Be proficient English speakers
• Have functional vision
• Have internet access, and access to a smartphone/laptop/desktop

Exclusion Criteria (both groups):

• Diagnosis of dementia
• Poor vision (non-functional range)
• Lack of access to internet or to a smartphone/ laptop/desktop computer.