Living near green spaces is well known to provide a range of benefits. A recent study from Northwestern highlights how it can even impact how our body ages.

Residents in close proximity to abundant green spaces exhibited an average biological age that was 2.5 years younger when compared to their counterparts residing in areas with limited access to verdant surroundings.

Nonetheless, it is imperative to acknowledge that the advantages conferred by green spaces were not uniformly distributed, with researchers noting discernible discrepancies across factors such as race, gender, and socioeconomic status.

“When we think about staying healthy as we get older, we usually focus on things like eating well, exercising and getting enough sleep,” the researchers explain. “However, our research shows that the environment we live in, specifically our community and access to green spaces, is also important for staying healthy as we age.”

Exposure to nature

The researchers delved into the impact of extended exposure, spanning approximately two decades, to urban green spaces on the process of biological aging. Specifically, they employed DNA methylation-based epigenetic age as a metric to gauge this influence.

DNA methylation-based epigenetic age refers to modifications in the chemical composition of DNA that may exert an influence on various age-related health outcomes. This epigenetic age serves as a biomarker of aging and has been associated with age-related diseases and overall mortality.

The findings of the study shed light on disparities in the effects of green spaces on biological aging, stratified by variables such as race, gender, and socioeconomic status.

The research encompassed a cohort of over 900 individuals residing in four distinct cities across the United States: Birmingham, Alabama; Chicago, Illinois; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Oakland, California. Notably, this sample constitutes a subset of a larger-scale cohort study known as the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) conducted within the United States.

Prolonged impact

To assess the participants’ exposure to green spaces over the course of two decades, the investigators employed satellite imagery, enabling them to quantify the overall presence of vegetation (as indicated by the proportion of greenness) and identify the proximity of major parks to the participants’ places of residence. Additionally, the scientists examined the participants’ biological age by analyzing DNA methylation patterns in their blood samples.

“Our study highlights that the natural environment, like green space, affects your health at a molecular level (changes in DNA methylation), which was detectable in blood,” the researchers conclude. “Our research team has extensively investigated the molecular-level changes associated with various age-related health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, cognitive function and mortality.”