People who live in green areas probably age more slowly at the cellular level – study
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Scientists suggest that people who live in areas with a lot of parks and gardens age more slowly at the cellular level than others.
This is reported by Science Alert with reference to a study published in the scientific journal Science of the Total Environment.
A group of scientists from the USA, Great Britain and Canada analyzed more than 7,800 people and their “home environment”.
“This study was an attempt to quantify the positive effects of green spaces at the cellular level, as well as the extent to which green spaces can help compensate for environmental damage.” – said co-author of the study, ecologist Aaron Hipp.
Green spaces probably slow down the aging of people. Photo: IgorVetushko/Depositphotos |
Scientists have found that those who live in areas with a lot of trees and other vegetation have longer telomeres – stretches of DNA that are repeated at the ends of each of the 46 chromosomes and prevent the genetic molecule from unraveling. They are associated with longevity.
“This was true regardless of race, economic status, and whether these people drank or smoked.” – remarked Hipp.
Each time a cell divides, the telomeres within it become shorter. This happens until the cell can no longer divide its genetic material and its cell line dies out.
“This makes telomeres important markers of biological age, or how worn out our cells are.
We know that many variables, such as stress, can affect how quickly this process occurs.” – said another co-author of the study, Scott Ogletree.
Among the positive effects of green spaces, scientists singled out the following:
- stress reduction;
- “softening” of heat;
- clean Air;
- lower noise level;
- promotion of physical activity.
“Given the average rate of depletion in the sample, green spaces can reduce the biological age of a person by 2.2-2.6 years”, – scientists assume.
It will be recalled that scientists have found a protein that can affect aging.
Read also: What is the secret of longevity? Analyzing the blood of long-dwellers may hold clues
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