Studies show that people who live in areas with more vegetation enjoy a number of health benefits, including reduced stress levels and cardiovascular disease.
A study published in the journal Science of the Total Environment shows that people living in areas with lots of green plants had longer telomeres, associated with longer life and slower aging.
Telomeres are structures at the ends of the 46 chromosomes in each cell, similar to the plastic caps on shoelaces. They prevent DNA from unfolding. The longer the cell’s telomeres are, the more it can reproduce. When telomeres become so short that cells cannot divide, they die.
Study author Aaron Hipp said: “Studies now show that where we live, how much exercise we do, what we eat can all influence the rate of telomere degradation and, again, the aging process.”
Green vegetation contributes to physical activity and social interaction, which is linked to improved health. Areas with lots of trees and greenery are often cooler, more resistant to flooding and have lower levels of air pollution.
However, in participants who lived in green areas and who also suffered from pollution and segregation, telomeres were no longer than those in similar communities with less vegetation. “Green space matters, but it’s important that people have time to get outside and enjoy such areas,” the study authors write.
Hipp and colleagues examined the medical records (which included measurements of telomere length from biological samples) and responses to questions from more than 7,800 people who participated in a National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey conducted between 1999 and 2002.
The researchers compared this information with census data to assess the amount of green vegetation in each individual’s neighborhood. They found that a 5% increase in greenness was associated with a 1% reduction in cell senescence.
2023-12-07 03:31:15
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