Living near green spaces could delay onset of menopause

Living in neighbourhoods with little nature can kick-start your menopause 1.4 years earlier

Living near green spaces could delay the onset of the menopause in women by more than a year, researchers have discovered. The study, published in the journal Environment International and carried out by ISGlobal, followed more than 2,000 women living across Europe over a 20-year span.­

It found that those living in neighbourhoods with little green space entered the menopause on average 1.4 years earlier than those living in the greenest neighbourhoods. On average, women in the greenest areas entered menopause at 51.7 years, while those living in areas with little green spaces started the menopause when they were just over 50 years old.

Natural healing

Researchers believe it could be because cortisol levels are lower in people who spend more time in nature. "Low cortisol levels have been associated with increased levels of estradiol, an important female sex hormone,” explained Kai Triebner, a postdoctoral visiting researcher at ISGlobal and lead author of the study.

“Perhaps women who live near green space have lower cortisol levels, which would allow them to maintain higher levels of estradiol, which may in turn delay the onset of menopause." Access to green space also lowers the risk of certain mental health conditions occurring, Triebner added, which are associated with earlier menopause.

Greener neighbourhoods

Speaking to i, Mr Triebner called for city planners to make access to green space a priority in urban neighbourhoods. He said. “I believe the message should be we need more green spaces and more areas with reduced traffic.”

He pointed to the use of superblocks in Barcelona where traffic is radically restricted to groups of streets. The roads inside the superblocks are instead given over to pedestrians and greenery, which creators say cuts air pollution and encourage a slower, less stressful pace of life for residents.

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