Urbanicity—Perspectives from Neuroscience and Public Health: A Scoping Review

Ben Senkler, Julius Freymueller, Susanne Lopez Lumbi, Claudia Hornberg, Hannah-Lea Schmid, Kristina Hennig-Fast, Gernot Horstmann and Timothy Mc Call ()
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Ben Senkler: Sustainable Environmental Health Sciences, Medical School OWL, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
Julius Freymueller: Sustainable Environmental Health Sciences, Medical School OWL, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
Susanne Lopez Lumbi: Sustainable Environmental Health Sciences, Medical School OWL, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
Claudia Hornberg: Sustainable Environmental Health Sciences, Medical School OWL, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
Hannah-Lea Schmid: Sustainable Environmental Health Sciences, Medical School OWL, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
Kristina Hennig-Fast: Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Department Psychiatry, Medical School OWL, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
Gernot Horstmann: Neurocognitive Psychology, Department Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Sport Science, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
Timothy Mc Call: Sustainable Environmental Health Sciences, Medical School OWL, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 20, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: Urban residency is associated with exposure to environmental factors, which can influence health in many ways. Neuroscientific research, as well as Public Health research, aim towards broadening evidence in the field of Urban Health. However, it is unclear whether the association between urban living and mental illnesses is causal rather than explainable by other selective effects. This review seeks to gather information on the current evidence regarding urban living and neurological outcomes to demonstrate how Public Health and Neuroscience could complement each other in the field of Urban Health. A scoping review was conducted in four electronic databases according to the PRISMA-statement guidelines. 25 empirical studies were included. Outcomes such as schizophrenia and psychotic disorders, social and cognitive functioning were scrutinised. Evidence was found for alteration of brain functioning and brain structure. Most studies researching cognitive functioning or cognitive decline displayed possible protective effects of urban living compared to rural living. The different study designs in Public Health and Neuroscience could profit from each other. Although the comparability of studies is limited by the inconsistent assessments of urbanity. Synergies and potentials to combine aspects of Public Health and Neuroscience in the field of Urban Health to improve population health became apparent.

Keywords: Urban Health; urban brain; urban planning; Mental Health; brain structure; Public Health; Neuroscience (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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