Gaby
Not long ago, the “50+” portal reported that the cells of residents in green areas age more slowly. Now, a new study reveals the miraculous impact of surrounding greenery on our well-being.
It turns out that those 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
This is the belief of scientists from the School of Public Health at Peking University in China. They attribute these findings to the lower air pollution levels near homes located close to green areas.
The research team involved 420,000 British participants, with an average age of 55. Over 12 years, the scientists studied their health status, particularly focusing on data related to 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 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 issues. Specifically, they had an eight 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.
According to the Stroke Association in the UK, trees and other vegetation absorb and filter air pollutants, which are responsible for 21 percent of stroke-related deaths, as previous studies have shown. Researchers also discovered that spending time in gardens and yards reduces the risk of stroke and the development of depression.
