Reverse your age by 12 years with this cell-saving secret

Graffiti has been scrawled on walls for thousands of years — it’s even been found on the walls of ancient Roman ruins. Aside from being an eyesore in many disadvantaged neighborhoods, those spray-painted messages you encounter are part of something bigger that can significantly influence your health.

Research shows that if you spend too much time around noise and pollution the way we typically do, your body — especially each individual cell — ages faster.

“Our (research) team examined whether these environments also have a direct impact on cellular health,’ says Mijung Park, who teaches at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. “We found that indeed, biological aging processes could be influenced by [these] conditions.”

To make the comparison, scientists examined people’s telomeres, the sections of genetic material located on the ends of chromosomes. Telomeres have been likened to shoelace caps because they shield the ends of DNA from damage.

The lengths of the telomeres in a cell’s DNA reflect the cell’s biological age. Every time a cell divides, the telomeres get shorter.

Eventually, telomeres are so severely shortened that the cell can’t divide normally. The result is short telomeres which are linked to heart disease, memory problems and even depression and anxiety.

The results of the study were striking. If you only spend time in the kind of urban landscape that’s so common in today’s world, your cells are likely to be a shocking 12 years older, as reflected in your telomeres, than the cells of a person dwelling in a more natural, relaxed setting.

Other research has substantiated the health benefits of nature. A study at the University of Minnesota shows that green, plant-filled areas that also have lakes, rivers or oceans, can help you age more healthfully into middle-age and beyond.

For optimal health of your telomeres, here are a few recommendations from the researchers:

• When dealing with your health as you age, don’t merely consider your physical body. Take a holistic approach that includes your social and mental well-being. Interact with friends and loved ones often.
• Get outside every day, even if it’s just a walk down the block.
• Make spending time in a natural setting a priority. Sit in a park. Listen to water rushing in a stream or fountain. Get friendly with your neighborhood trees.

The message in all this research is that you shouldn’t let your house, or apartment, become a prison. Get out and live a little. Your telomeres will thank you, and you’ll stay younger for much longer.