Do you know that neural functions and well-being are related? Yes, indeed. We all have heard of the saying “Health is Wealth”, which is true regarding mental or neurological well-being, says the best neurology specialist in Chennai. It is because the evolutionary habits that we adapt in our lives significantly affect our neurology. The research was conducted on humans and rodents, where they were placed under changing environmental conditions associated with urbanisation. The study revealed that humans and rodents had depression due to urban factors. It was also found that ecological threats impacted their emotion with variable genetics and increased stress due to various stress disorders.

Similarly, many experts followed research by utilising all the possible urban factors contributing to mental or psychiatric illness. However, these studies from various sources provided insights into understanding urbanisation’s outcomes. This blog lets us see the neurological issues that occur due to the urban lifestyle and its effects.

Light Pollution:

Light pollution is brightening the sky through artificial sources like street lights. It is to be noted that the city’s temporal pace has changed drastically in the past 200 years. If you remember, in the 1900s, most human activities were constrained or stopped before sunset. After the gas lights and electricity, people ventured for night-time activities, initially followed by the wealthy and slowly imitated by the less privileged. The electric lights soon illuminated the skies, which led to widespread social activities at night.

An epidemiological study on humans showed that city dwellers are prone to developing depression compared to rural dwellers. All the researchers were uncertain about determining the factors associated with it. However, a hypothesis for the increased depression rate in city dwellers stated that the bright sky or light at night disrupted the human brain. The extended exposure to light at night disrupts the brain’s circadian rhythms, leading to impairment effectively.

Do you know that major depressive disorder (MDD) is around 15% in today’s generation which was 1% in 1983? Yes, these are due to significant lifestyle changes. Similarly, light pollution affects night shift workers by disrupting the brain’s circadian rhythms. It is because continuous night work leads to an irregular sleep routine, subsequently leading to an increased rate of MDD.

However, the data linking light pollution at night and neurological changes are insufficient and cannot be precise. However, one study that correlates these conditions states that prolonged exposure to light at night can also produce increased melatonin in the body, which can also cause breast cancer in women.

Violence:

Will you believe that violence is also another reason for neurological disorders? Numerous studies reveal that individuals living in urban regions are affected by traumatic and post-traumatic events. These studies also observed that around 18% of women and 10% of men are impacted by the same.

The significant violence here refers to the higher rate of substance abuse, crime, and poverty. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders also says that the impact of violence can start at a very young age and is very common in adolescence. The studies also revealed the diagnostic image of the brain that is subjected to fear and being neutral. The amygdala in the neural system is activated in response to stress compared to the neutral one. These types of studies are also done at diagnostic labs in Chennai to know precise neurological conditions.

Over a while, after overcoming these tragedies, they are affected by Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), characterised by fear and help. So, children or adults growing up in this neighbourhood perform worse in school and are subjectable to more serious mental problems.

Similarly, in the case of poverty, individuals are prone to criminal and other illegal activities. It can also affect the shaping and structure of their brain function. Hence, increased urbanisation followed by a high violence rate can also affect the brain function of children and adults.

Urban Environment:

Thirdly, the urban environment can affect brain development, leading to anxiety and disorder. The urban environment includes factors like neighbourhoods, social-economic characters, climate, and interactions.

The neighbourhoods can significantly affect the brain and increase anxiety disorder if they are more prone to economic factors like homelessness, poverty, immigration and unemployment.

It is a common factor that many migrate to cities from their hometown in search of social opportunities, employment, better services, and to start a new life. However, when they reach the urban region, many find it challenging to adapt to the new environment, which results in mental health challenges.

Another factor that affects them is the stimuli. The factors that increase the stimuli are crowd, population density, smell, pollution, and related things. These factors act as a triggering point and affect the individuals with which some cannot cope. Hence, as a result, this, in turn, increases the human body’s baseline, like preparedness, stress, and arousal. It is sometimes continued by social isolation, anxiety, and depression.

Thus, immigration from rural to urban significantly affects the human mind because leaving their extensive network of loved ones and adapting to the newer environment takes more time, during which they also develop various mental issues.

Effective Strategies To Overcome Mental Problems:

As we have seen the potential factors that shape the individual’s mood and anxiety, let us now see the effective strategies to overcome mental problems. Many liturgical studies reveal that modification in the urban environment positively impacts anxiety and various mood disorders.

These changes include increasing the green spaces and walkability areas and improving the social interaction in and around the neighbourhood.

However, these types of modifications need extensive cooperation from communities. It is also to be noted that practising some methods personally will significantly impact mental health before being involved in the comprehensive improvement.

Including relaxation techniques, meditation, opening up with others, staying positive and related healthy methods will help you analyse yourself.

Urban environments are at a high risk of brain disorders because of social and economic factors. Hence, taking proper conservative steps will prevent the neurobiological effects. Sugam Hospital is one of the best healthcare facilities for treating neurological conditions with the top neurologist in Chennai.