Genes alone are not enough for one to live long on this planet; one's living environment is a factor, too. While this statement is no longer surprising as it is already established that social and environmental factors hugely contribute to longevity, there is still an unanswered question: what is the ideal living environment? This is what the scientists from Washington State University answered in their study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
They found that neighborhood walkability, higher socioeconomic status, and a high percentage of working age population (a measure of age diversity) were positively correlated with reaching centenarian status.
"These findings indicate that mixed-age communities are very beneficial for everyone involved," said Bhardwaj. "They also support the big push in growing urban centers toward making streets more walkable, which makes exercise more accessible to older adults and makes it easier for them to access medical care and grocery stores." Amram added that neighborhoods that offer more age diversity tend to be in urban areas, where older adults are likely to experience less isolation and more community support.
More details about this study over at ScienceDaily.
(Image Credit: B_Me/ Pixabay)
Everything you described is exactly how Japanese live. Well except the anime and godzilla.
Abusive comment hidden.
(Show it anyway.)