Affordability, low crime, quick commutes and quality schools are some of the top priorities for homebuyers searching for a neighborhood to call home.
They may need to add “absence of zombie cells” to their list.
A new study from the NYU School of Global Public Health found that certain neighborhoods may be aging their residents faster than others — but not for the reasons you might think.
“Our health is shaped not only by individual behaviors, but also by the environments we live in,” Mariana Rodrigues, a PhD student at NYU School of Global Public Health and the study’s first author, said in a statement.
“This study suggests that structural conditions may become biologically embedded and influence aging processes over time.”
For the research, Rodrigues’s team analyzed data from 1,215 US adults who had provided blood samples as part of a larger study.
Their neighborhoods were assessed on factors such as air and water quality, educational attainment, health insurance coverage, homeownership and income.
The study authors found that residents of “low-opportunity neighborhoods” had significantly higher CDKN2A RNA after accounting for socioeconomic, health and lifestyle factors.
CDKN2A RNA is widely recognized as a biomarker of biological aging and cellular senescence because it acts as an “off switch” for cell division and reflects accumulated cellular stress and DNA damage.
Senescent cells — also known as “zombie cells” — are damaged cells that stop dividing but don’t die. Their presence in tissues fuels chronic inflammation, accelerating aging and age-related diseases.
There are a few ways to eliminate zombie cells, including senolytic drugs, regular exercise and food substances like fisetin. The highest concentration of natural fisetin is found in strawberries, but you’d have to eat a truckload to move the needle. Supplements are often a better choice.
The accelerated aging the NYU researchers observed was primarily driven by social and economic factors, such as employment, homeownership and income, rather than by educational, health or environmental factors.
“Stressors related to income, jobs and housing are not occasional, but persistent conditions that shape daily life,” said Adolfo Cuevas, an associate professor of social and behavioral sciences at NYU School of Global Public Health and the study’s senior author.
“Our findings suggest that chronic stress caused by economic deprivation and limited mobility may be the primary driver of cellular aging.”
The findings were published in the June edition of the Social Science and Medicine journal.
Rodrigues and Cuevas hope their results prompt further study into how neighborhood conditions affect aging over time.
“Improving neighborhood conditions, particularly social and economic resources, may be important for promoting healthy aging and reducing health disparities,” Rodrigues said, “but if we really want to address health disparities and improve health for everyone, it’s important to consider what needs to be changed at the structural level.”
Other studies have demonstrated how your ZIP code can shape your health.
Residents in high-poverty neighborhoods are often exposed to toxic air and dangerous streets, while neighborhoods with better walkability and abundant green spaces tend to promote overall health.
