How where you LIVE could mean you live longer – how will you fare?
LIVING near a park could help you have a longer life, a study suggests.
Exposure to green spaces over time helped slow how quickly people aged, US researchers found.
They tested around 924 adults’ DNA to measure their biological age and compared how closely they lived to parks from 1985 to 2006.
Dr Kyeezu Kim, of Northwestern University, said: “We found a relationship between greenness and slower epigenetic ageing.
“Cumulative exposures to greenness may play a role in slower epigenetic ageing later in life.”
Epigenetic ageing — as opposed to chronological ageing — is a measure of how much our bodies have aged.
Rather than simply looking at your birth date, scientists measure DNA to see how much your cells, tissues and organs have broken down over time.
It gives an indication of how long you are likely to live, because a lower epigenetic age means your body is functioning better than might be expected.
Previous research has linked living near green spaces to having a lower risk of dementia.
The latest study, published in Science Advances, looked at how it could affect how quickly you age more broadly.
They tracked where people lived across four cities in the US: Birmingham, Alabama; Chicago, Illinois; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Oakland, California.
By the end of the study, they were aged 45 on average and researchers looked at how closely they lived to parks and green spaces throughout the 21 years using GPS data.
Participants were given blood tests after 15 and 20 years to measure their biological ageing.
Those who lived within 5km of a park aged less quickly than those who lived further away.
Independent experts said the study shows the need to improve access to parks in cities.
Dr Mirjam Schindler, of Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand, said: “The study suggests that living near green spaces may lead to slower epigenetic ageing.
“I am thrilled to see further evidence quantifying the benefits provided by green spaces and their pivotal role in creating healthy living environments.
“It provides valuable insights that urban planners and decision-makers need to take note of, especially in the ongoing discussions on housing strategies.
“The study reinforces the urgency of creating ample, high-quality green spaces that meet residents’ needs, ensuring their accessibility and the subsequent reaping of benefits.”