But still, living close to spaces with nature for a long time is related to better health. Likewise, it was found that the difference is more marked in women and white people than in men or African-Americans.
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The Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine team analyzed a cardiovascular study that included: DNA methylation, green spaces, and demographic data from a cohort of 924 participants, including 376 African-Americans and 548 whites residing in 4 cities in USA
Thus, biomarkers based on DNA methylation and related to age, the density of vegetation obtained by satellite and the location of the parks near the residences of the participants were compared.
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In this way they discovered that greater exposure to residential green spaces was associated with slower epigenetic aging, but only among white participants.
As for black participants, who had less exposure to green spaces on average, the scientists said the results could be more health benefits from having more access to green spaces, but more research was needed. to identify the responsible health factors involved.
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Among the difficulties encountered in carrying out the study, is the small sample that was taken into consideration for so long. “Of the more than 5,000 people participating in the study, they only analyzed 924 people for whom they have complete information on the variables of the study after twenty years of follow-up. These people could have different characteristics from the rest of the people not included in the analysis,” says Mario Fontán Vela, Associate Professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health at the University of Alcalá.
Similarly, Another research problem is not studying the types of green spaces and their quality, which could explain some of the differences found between social groups.
Jimena Delgado
School of journalism EL TIEMPO
