Green and blue space linked to biological aging in middle-aged and older Chinese adults
In a CHARLS cohort of middle-aged and older Chinese adults, moderate green and blue space coverage was associated with lower frailty index and biological age acceleration, with stronger associations in lower socioeconomic status, women and ages 45–65. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The study analyzed longitudinal CHARLS data on middle-aged and older Chinese adults, using satellite-derived green and blue space indicators and measuring biological aging by frailty index and KDM-biological age acceleration. [1]
For the frailty index, maximum green space protection occurred at 66.6% coverage (FI reduction 0.006; 95% CI -0.009, -0.004), and maximum blue space protection at 10.9% coverage (FI reduction 0.014; 95% CI -0.021, -0.008). [1]
Moderate green and blue space levels were associated with lower biological aging, with stronger associations among low socioeconomic status, women and ages 45–65; the authors suggest equitable nature-based planning could promote healthy aging. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Longitudinal cohort study (abstract).
- Population / context
- Middle-aged and older adults in China (CHARLS cohort).
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- August 14, 2026
CHARLS cohort and satellite exposure measures
The study used longitudinal data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) on middle-aged and older Chinese adults. Natural environment exposures were assessed with satellite-derived indicators: normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), enhanced vegetation index (EVI), green space coverage ratio and blue space coverage ratio. Biological aging was quantified by a frailty index (FI) and KDM-biological age acceleration (KDM-BAacc). Generalized additive mixed models were used to model nonlinear relationships, and beneficial exposure ranges and optimal levels were derived by differentiating the curves.
Supporting source [1]
Nonlinear associations with frailty index and biological age
Significant nonlinear associations were observed between environmental indicators and biological aging. For the frailty index, the maximum protective effect of green space occurred at 66.6% coverage, reducing FI by 0.006 (95% CI: -0.009, -0.004), with a protective interval of (0.466, 0.784). Blue space showed a maximum FI reduction of 0.014 (95% CI: -0.021, -0.008) at 10.9% coverage, with a protective interval of (0.013, 0.140). For KDM-BAacc, optimal NDVI was 0.663 and optimal blue space proportion was 10.8%. Subgroup analyses found stronger protective effects among individuals with low socioeconomic status, women and those aged 45–65 years.
Supporting source [1]
Abstract-only scope and association, not causation
The conclusion states that moderate levels of green and blue spaces were associated with lower levels of biological aging, and that nonlinear associations were stronger in socially vulnerable groups. The authors suggest equitable nature-based planning could be a strategic public health intervention to promote healthy aging. This is an abstract; the full text was not reviewed. The design is a cohort study, but the abstract does not report sample size, follow-up length or adjustment details, and the findings are associations rather than demonstrated causes.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. The abstract does not report sample size, follow-up duration or adjustment details, and the findings are associations, not established causes.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Sun Y, Qiao B, Meng X, Wang M, Zhang H, Wang Z, Sun S, Zheng D, Yan Y, Wu L, Zhao Y, Dong W, Liu K. · europepmc.org · August 14, 2026