Effects of Forest Healing Anti-Aging Program on Psychological, Physiological, and Physical Health of Older People with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Ji-Eun Baek, Jin-Hwa Jung, Ho-Jin Shin, Sung-Hyeon Kim, Si-Yoon Sung, Su-Jin Park, Suk-Chan Hahm, Hwi-Young Cho and Min-Goo Lee
Additional contact information
Ji-Eun Baek: Department of Health Science, Gachon University Graduate School, Incheon 21936, Korea
Jin-Hwa Jung: Department of Occupational Therapy, Semyung University, Jecheon 27136, Korea
Ho-Jin Shin: Department of Health Science, Gachon University Graduate School, Incheon 21936, Korea
Sung-Hyeon Kim: Department of Health Science, Gachon University Graduate School, Incheon 21936, Korea
Si-Yoon Sung: Huenlab, Seoul 05542, Korea
Su-Jin Park: Forest Policy and Economics Department, Forest Welfare Division, National Institute of Forest Science, Seoul 02455, Korea
Suk-Chan Hahm: Graduate School of Integrative Medicine, CHA University, Seongnam 13488, Korea
Hwi-Young Cho: Department of Physical Therapy, Gachon University, Incheon 21936, Korea
Min-Goo Lee: Department of Physiology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Korea

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 8, 1-17

Abstract: This study aimed to determine the effect of a forest healing anti-aging program on psychological, physiological, and physical health in older people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Twenty-two older people with MCI living in the city participated in a forest healing anti-aging program. Psychological indicators included the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), Beck depression inventory (BDI), profile of mood states (POMS), World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument (WHOQOL), and the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI). Physiological indicators included vital signs, body composition, and blood analysis. Physical indicators included the senior fitness test (SFT), muscle strength, spatiotemporal parameter of gait, static balance, and dynamic balance. Psychological, physiological, and physical indicators were evaluated at first and second pre-measurement, post-measurement, and one-month follow-up. MMSE, BDI, POMS, WHOQOL, body composition, blood analysis, SFT, muscle strength, spatiotemporal parameter of gait, and dynamic balance were significantly different between pre- and post-measurement. Beck depression inventory, POMS, WHOQOL, PSQI, SFT, muscle strength (elbow flexor muscle, knee extensor muscle), spatiotemporal parameter of gait significantly improved continually until the one-month follow-up. In conclusion, the forest healing program had a positive effect on the psychological, physiological, and physical health of older people with MCI.

Keywords: older people; forest therapy; mild cognitive impairment; physical health; physiological health; psychological health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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