While urban life is often associated with stress and pollution, living in more intensely developed neighborhoods may actually protect against stroke, a new University of Michigan study suggests.
The research tracked more than 25,000 adults across the United States for over a decade, and found that residents in areas with higher levels of development, characterized by more buildings, sidewalks and infrastructure, had a 2.5% lower risk of suffering a first-time stroke compared to residents in less developed areas.
The study utilized data from REGARDS , the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke study, which addresses health disparities in the “stroke belt,” an 11-state region in the Southeastern U.S. where stroke mortality is disproportionately high among Black Americans, said Cathy…