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Urban green spaces lengthen pensioners' lives

November 22, 2002

The availability of nearby parks and tree-lined streets in large, densely populated cities significantly increases the longevity of pensioners, finds a study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

From 1992 onwards, the researchers monitored the longevity of over 3,000 people born in 1903, 1908, 1913, and 1918. All the study participants lived in Japan's capital, Tokyo, one of the most densely populated cities in the world. The average density was 13,050 inhabitants per square kilometre in 1997, and the amount of park space per head was 5.18 square metres.

In 1992 the study participants completed questionnaires on their living environment and their monthly expenses. The survey included questions on the proximity of urban green spaces, levels of industrial and traffic noise; the amount of sunlight entering their home; and community facilities, neighbourliness, and crime levels.

Between 1992 to 1997, a total of 897 people died. Not unexpectedly, the oldest and poorest people died sooner. And more hours of sunlight in the home and lower environmental noise levels were both associated with longer lives.

But being able to walk to a public park and/or tree lined streets near to where they lived, and as a consequence, feeling positive about their community, were significantly associated with living longer. They accounted for 50% of the variance in the various factors assessed.

The result held true even after taking into consideration the factors known to affect longevity, such as gender, marital status, income, and age.

The authors point to previous research, which shows that the more physically active an older person is, the longer they tend to live. The availability of a green space within walking distance is likely to promote physical activity outside the home, they say, especially in densely populated urban areas with a high proportion of flats without gardens.

The authors conclude that the provision of public parks and gardens is not just a matter of preference, but is important to the health of elderly people. Planners and developers should ensure that urban green spaces are an integral part of city life, they say.

British Medical Journal (BMJ)