A new study has found that individuals living near green spaces such as parks and vegetation areas exhibit slower biological aging compared to those who do not have such access.
According to the study, people with access to green spaces were on average 2.5 years biologically younger.
Kyeezu Kim, the lead author of the study and a postdoctoral scholar at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, highlighted the implications of this research for urban planning, emphasizing the potential of expanding green infrastructure to promote public health and reduce health disparities.
The researchers examined DNA chemical modifications, specifically “methylation”, which can serve as an accurate predictor of health conditions such as cardiovascular disease and cancer.
This was conducted through a longitudinal study of over 900 individuals from four American cities—Birmingham, Chicago, Minneapolis, and Oakland—over a period of 20 years.
The team used satellite imaging to assess proximity to vegetation and parks and collected blood samples to determine biological age.
The results showed that people with homes surrounded by 30 percent green cover within a five-kilometer radius were on average 2.5 years biologically younger compared to those with 20 percent green cover.
Differing Impact
However, the benefits were not evenly distributed among the study participants.
Black individuals with more access to green spaces were only one year biologically younger, while white individuals were three years younger.
Kim mentioned that other factors such as stress, the quality of green spaces, and other social support could affect the degree of benefits in terms of biological aging.
Future Research Directions
The team plans to further investigate the link between green spaces and specific health outcomes, as well as the exact mechanisms through which proximity to greenery reduces aging.
The study has been praised by other experts in the field, such as epidemiologist Manuel Franco from the University of Alcala and Johns Hopkins, who deemed it well-designed and highlighted the growing scientific evidence supporting the promotion of urban green spaces.
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The study was published in Science Advances.
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