The number of elderly persons is rising rapidly, and healthspan is a key factor in determining the well-being of individuals and the sustainability of national health systems. Environmental health is crucial for a "successful aging". Complex relationships between environmental factors and non-communicable diseases play a major role, causing or accelerating disabilities. Besides genetic factors, aging results from the concurrence of several environmental factors starting from early (i.e. in utero) life, able to increase susceptibility to diseases in adulthood, and to promote frailty in the elderly. In aged people, an unhealthy environment contributes to a fast and early decline and increases vulnerability. Exposure to pollutants facilitates the onset and progression of cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic and neurologic diseases through direct effects and epigenetic mechanisms negatively affecting biological age. Healthy diet, healthy environment and constant physical activity could counteract, at least in part, the negative effects of environmental stressors. Almost all environmental factors generating detrimental effects on aging are modifiable, with relevant implications in terms of primary prevention measures potentially leading to decreased frailty, to an increase in the number of years lived without diseases or disability, and to a significant reduction in health expenditure.

中文翻译：

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环境是成功衰老或虚弱的决定因素。

老年人的数量正在迅速增加，而健康跨度是决定个人福祉和国家卫生系统可持续性的关键因素。环境健康对于成功老龄化至关重要。环境因素与非传染性疾病之间的复杂关系在导致或加速残疾方面发挥着重要作用。除了遗传因素之外，衰老是由早期（即在子宫内）生命开始的几种环境因素共同作用的结果，能够增加成年期对疾病的易感性，并促进老年人的虚弱。在老年人中，不健康的环境会导致快速和早期衰退并增加脆弱性。接触污染物会促进心血管、呼吸系统、代谢和神经系统疾病通过直接影响和表观遗传机制对生物年龄产生负面影响。健康的饮食、健康的环境和持续的体育锻炼可以至少部分抵消环境压力的负面影响。几乎所有对衰老产生不利影响的环境因素都是可以改变的，在初级预防措施方面的相关影响可能导致减少虚弱，增加没有疾病或残疾的年数，并显着减少卫生支出。