Gaby
Not long ago, the “50+” portal reported that the cells of people living in green areas age more slowly. Now a new study suggests nearby greenery also protects against serious health problems.
People who have their own gardens or easy access to green spaces are significantly more protected against strokes and dementia.
How Researchers Came to This Conclusion
Researchers at the School of Public Health at Peking University in China link these benefits to lower air pollution near homes close to green areas.
The research team enrolled 420,000 British participants, with an average age of 55. Over 12 years, the scientists tracked their health, focusing on strokes, dementia, and mortality. They paid special attention to volunteers living within 300 meters of green spaces.
During the study period, 8,568 participants were diagnosed with strokes, and 5,648 were diagnosed with dementia. In some cases, strokes were a consequence of dementia, as reported by the Daily Mail.
The researchers found that those with the most greenery near their homes were the least affected by these problems. Specifically, they had an 8 percent lower chance of having a stroke and a 14 percent lower chance of dying. They also had a 26 percent lower chance of experiencing a stroke as a result of dementia.
The results of the study were published in the journal Science of the Total Environment.
The UK Stroke Association says trees and other vegetation absorb and filter air pollutants, and previous studies have linked air pollution to 21 percent of stroke-related deaths. The study also found that spending time in gardens and yards reduces the risk of stroke and the development of depression.
