Culture
Your Neighborhood Affects How You Age
A new report lays out the current research on the ways your immediate surroundings influence your health and aging process.
The aging of America’s 76 million Baby Boomers has created a demand for research on how best to live out the golden years. Studies often center on individual behaviors, such as exercise and eating habits, as well as the genetic factors that can affect the health of those advancing in age.
A growing body of research is focusing on environmental influence. One avenue of inquiry involves how neighborhood characteristics, such as walkability, income level, and safety, can affect people’s ability to stay healthy and benefit from “aging in place”—that is, remaining in their homes and communities, as most Baby Boomers have indicated they’d like to do.