New research followed more than 25,000 adults and found a 2.5% lower risk of first-time stroke in areas with medium or high development compared with less developed areas. The team says living in more developed places may reduce stroke risk.
The study used data from REGARDS, which examines health differences in the "stroke belt," an 11-state region in the Southeastern United States where stroke mortality is high among Black Americans, according to Cathy Antonakos of the University of Michigan School of Kinesiology.
Researchers measured development intensity with satellite data in 5-mile (8-km) road networks around more than 34,000 residential locations. The association held after adjusting for age, race, sex and conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
Antonakos says the next step is to identify which environmental features explain the link. High-intensity development often brings more housing, retail and better access to health care, stores and public transport, but the study did not test these features directly. The research appears in Cities & Health.
Difficult words
- development — building and growth of towns and cities
- stroke — sudden brain injury caused by blood flow problem
- satellite — a man-made object that orbits the Earth
- residential — relating to places where people live
- association — a statistical link between two or more things
- adjust — to change numbers to account for other factorsadjusting
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Which local services (for example health care, stores or public transport) do you think most affect people's health where you live?
- Do you think living in a more developed area could reduce other health risks? Why or why not?
- What changes could a town make to reduce stroke risk for its residents?
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