Study finds living near green spaces reduces biological age

Dr. Kyeezu Kim is the lead author of the study and a postdoctoral scholar at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.

To explore the impact of environmental factors on the ageing process, Dr. Kim and his team recorded the home addresses of 924 individuals from four US cities (Birmingham, Alabama; Chicago; Minneapolis; and Oakland, California) over a 20-year period, between 1986 and 2006.

This data allowed the researchers to measure the proximity of each person’s address to tree cover, vegetation, and public parks. Blood samples were also taken from the participants during the same timeframe.

The researchers controlled for various variables such as education, income, and risk factors like smoking. What they found was surprising.

One group of participants lived in areas that had a maximum of 20 percent green cover within a 5km radius. This group was estimated to be approximately 2.5 years biologically older compared to those who lived in areas with 30 percent green cover.

The disparity in biological age was believed to be a result of more frequent social interactions and increased physical exercise amongst individuals residing in areas with higher green cover.

What’s interesting is that the link between epigenetic ageing and green spaces was found to be even stronger among people living in disadvantaged neighbourhoods, according to the study’s authors.

The benefits of accessible green space were also not shared evenly. Black participants with more access to parks were only one year biologically younger, while white people were three years younger.

‘Other factors, such as stress, qualities of the surrounding green space, and other social support, can affect the degree of benefits of green spaces in terms of biological aging,’ said Dr. Kim.

Further research is needed to find out exactly how access to parks can significantly lower biological ages, these types of studies could have significant implications for urban planning in the future.

Dr. Kim stated, ‘Living near more greenness can help you be younger than your actual age. We believe our findings have significant implications for urban planning in terms of expanding green infrastructure to promote public health and reduce health disparities.’