Travel helps improve the mental health of vulnerable people. Good news as summer vacation begins.
- Worldwide, 50 million people have dementia.
- “Tourism also improves physical well-being,” according to the authors.
Even if the school holidays will only officially begin on July 7, many French people will already be leaving to go to a destination more or less far away, this first weekend of July. According to a study published in the journal Tourism Managementtravel can provide them with fun and rest, but it also has the same effect as therapy for people with mental health problems.
Cognitive and sensory stimulation
To reach this conclusion, researchers from Edith-Cowan University in Australia studied how tourism could benefit people with dementia. “No research in tourism or medicine has looked at the potential relationship between travel and the medical treatment of dementia”, they said. In order to carry out their work, they recruited adults with dementia.
Scientists have linked tourist experiences to therapeutic interventions for dementia. Clearly, tourism could be part of the treatment for dementia. According to them, being in new environments and having new experiences can provide cognitive and sensory stimulation.
Traveling, a new form of therapy
“Exercise has been associated with mental well-being and travel often involves increased physical activity, such as walking. Meals are often different on vacation: they are usually more social activities with multiple people and found that family-style meals positively influenced the eating behavior of dementia patients. And then there are the basics like fresh air and sunshine that boost vitamin D and serotonin levels.” said Dr. Jun Wen, lead author of the study in a statement.
According to the researcher, doctors may recommend certain treatments for dementia, such as music therapy, exercise, reminiscence therapy, adaptation of the patient’s meals and environment, but “all these elements are also often present during the holidays”.
