True or false?-Living near greenery, living longer

Researchers monitored 108,630 women who completed biannual questionnaires on their health and lifestyle from 2000 to 2008. During that time, 8,604 died. Using satellite imagery, the researchers tracked the extent of seasonal vegetation where the women lived. The study controlled for socioeconomic status, age, race, body mass index, physical activity, smoking, education and other factors.

Compared with those living in the lowest one-fifth for greenness in the 250-square-metre area surrounding their homes, those living in the highest one-fifth had a mortality rate that was 12% lower. The study is in Environmental Health Perspectives.

Those living near greenery had a rate of deaths from respiratory illness that was 34% lower and a rate of dying from cancer that was 13% lower. But greenness did not affect mortality related to coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke or infections.

The lead author, Peter James, a research associate at Harvard, said there were 4 factors in greener areas that helped account for the effects: less air pollution, more physical activity, more social engagement and, most significant, better mental health, as measured by a lower prevalence of depression.

“This doesn’t mean you need to move to the country,” Peter­ said. “We found the associations within urban areas as well as rural areas. Any increased vegetation — more street trees, for example — seems to decrease mortality rates.”