{"id":45615,"date":"2026-04-09T10:04:22","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T10:04:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=45615"},"modified":"2026-04-09T10:04:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T10:04:22","slug":"your-neighborhood-could-be-aging-you-faster-creating-more-zombie-cells","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=45615","title":{"rendered":"Your neighborhood could be aging you faster, creating more &#8216;zombie cells&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Affordability, low crime, quick commutes and quality schools are some of the top priorities for homebuyers searching for a neighborhood to call home.<\/p>\n<p>They may need to add \u201cabsence of zombie cells\u201d to their list.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nyu.edu\/about\/news-publications\/news\/2026\/april\/neighborhood-aging.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A new study<\/a> from the NYU School of Global Public Health found that certain neighborhoods may be aging their residents faster than others \u2014 but not for the reasons you might think.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"39027599\"><br \/>\n\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"icon-plus\" fill=\"#fff\" viewbox=\"0 0 1033 1000\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\"><path d=\"M380 364V0h273v355h380v290H653v355H380V645H0V355h380v9z\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<figcaption>Walkability and convenience are good things to have in a neighborhood, while a lack of green spaces and neglect of infrastructure are not. <span class=\"credit\">Studium L&amp;M \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cOur health is shaped not only by individual behaviors, but also by the environments we live in,\u201d Mariana Rodrigues, a PhD student at NYU School of Global Public Health and the study\u2019s first author, said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis study suggests that structural conditions may become biologically embedded and influence aging processes over time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For the research, Rodrigues\u2019s team analyzed data from 1,215 US adults who had provided blood samples as part of a larger study.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>Their neighborhoods were assessed on factors such as air and water quality, educational attainment, health insurance coverage, homeownership and income.<\/p>\n<p>The study authors found that residents of \u201clow-opportunity neighborhoods\u201d had significantly higher CDKN2A RNA after accounting for socioeconomic, health and lifestyle factors.<\/p>\n<p>CDKN2A RNA is widely recognized as a biomarker of biological aging and cellular senescence because it acts as an \u201coff switch\u201d for cell division and reflects accumulated cellular stress and DNA damage.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"39027605\"><br \/>\n\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"icon-plus\" fill=\"#fff\" viewbox=\"0 0 1033 1000\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\"><path d=\"M380 364V0h273v355h380v290H653v355H380V645H0V355h380v9z\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.50146628;display:block\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-modal-image=\"39027605\" width=\"886\" height=\"590\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/one-hispanic-woman-peeking-curtain-125247406.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"A young woman with short dark hair and red lipstick peeking through a gap in a white curtain.\" class=\"wp-image-39027605\" 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https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/one-hispanic-woman-peeking-curtain-125247406.jpg?resize=322,215&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 322w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/one-hispanic-woman-peeking-curtain-125247406.jpg?resize=662,441&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 662w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/one-hispanic-woman-peeking-curtain-125247406.jpg?resize=90,60&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 90w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/one-hispanic-woman-peeking-curtain-125247406.jpg?resize=120,80&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 120w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/one-hispanic-woman-peeking-curtain-125247406.jpg?resize=1200,800&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/one-hispanic-woman-peeking-curtain-125247406.jpg?resize=1038,692&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1038w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/one-hispanic-woman-peeking-curtain-125247406.jpg?resize=87,58&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 87w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/one-hispanic-woman-peeking-curtain-125247406.jpg?resize=50,33&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 50w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/one-hispanic-woman-peeking-curtain-125247406.jpg?resize=150,100&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 886px) 100vw, 886px\"\/><figcaption>The researchers hope that residents work together to address health disparities and improve health for all. <span class=\"credit\">Marco \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Senescent cells \u2014 also known as <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/02\/19\/health\/controversial-supplements-can-get-rid-of-zombie-cells-that-speed-up-aging\/\">\u201czombie cells\u201d<\/a> \u2014 are damaged cells that stop dividing but don\u2019t die. Their presence in tissues fuels chronic inflammation, accelerating aging and age-related diseases.<\/p>\n<p>There are a few ways to eliminate zombie cells, including <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2023\/07\/31\/diabetes-drug-metformin-helps-seniors-fight-zombie-cells-new-study\/\">senolytic drugs<\/a>, regular exercise and food substances like fisetin. The highest concentration of natural fisetin is found in strawberries, but you\u2019d have to eat a truckload to move the needle. <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/03\/18\/health\/how-your-skin-can-actually-impact-your-health\/\">Supplements<\/a> are often a better choice.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cStressors related to income, jobs and housing are not occasional, but persistent conditions that shape daily life,\u201d said\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/publichealth.nyu.edu\/faculty\/adolfo-cuevas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Adolfo Cuevas<\/a>, an associate professor of social and behavioral sciences at NYU School of Global Public Health and the study\u2019s senior author.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignright\">\n\t<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cOur findings suggest that chronic stress caused by economic deprivation and limited mobility may be the primary driver of cellular aging.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The findings were published in the June edition of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0277953626002728\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Social Science and Medicine<\/a> journal.<\/p>\n<p>Rodrigues and Cuevas hope their results prompt further study into how neighborhood conditions affect aging over time.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cImproving neighborhood conditions, particularly social and economic resources, may be important for promoting healthy aging and reducing health disparities,\u201d Rodrigues said, \u201cbut if we really want to address health disparities and improve health for everyone, it\u2019s important to consider what needs to be changed at the structural level.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Other studies have demonstrated how your <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2024\/08\/21\/health\/where-you-live-can-affect-chances-of-a-dementia-diagnosis-study\/\">ZIP code can shape your health<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Residents in high-poverty neighborhoods are often exposed to <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2020\/02\/13\/air-pollution-is-killing-new-yorkers-but-its-not-coming-from-here\/\">toxic air<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/12\/09\/us-news\/nycs-deadliest-intersections-revealed-as-officials-propose-fix-that-could-save-lives\/\">dangerous streets<\/a>, while neighborhoods with <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2024\/08\/16\/real-estate\/7-new-jersey-cities-just-as-walkable-as-manhattan-but-at-a-lower-price\/\">better walkability<\/a> and abundant green spaces tend to promote overall health.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/04\/09\/health\/your-neighborhood-could-be-aging-you-faster-creating-more-zombie-cells\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":45616,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-45615","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-wellness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45615","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=45615"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45615\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/45616"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=45615"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=45615"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=45615"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}