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Greening the area with trees and bushes reduced inflammation levels in residents
The effect was dose-dependent
American scientists conducted a controlled intervention study and found that greening the area with trees and shrubs is associated with a decrease in the level of inflammatory reactions in residents of the area. A report on this was presented at the 36th annual conference of the International Society for Environmental Cardiology ISEE 2024.
Observational studies have repeatedly indicated that living in areas with insufficient greenery is associated with an increased risk of diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, and strokes, as well as an increase in cardiovascular mortality, and vice versa. At the same time, the possibility of directly influencing the health of residents through greening remained poorly studied.
As part of the Green Heart Project initiative, Clara Sears and colleagues at the University of Louisville identified 16 clusters in Louisville’s low- and middle-income areas that matched in demographic composition and environment. They were divided into target (main) and control. In 2018 and 2021, residents of these clusters aged 25–75 (60 percent were women, and about half had an annual family income of less than $50,000) were invited to participate in the study, and their health information and blood…
