Access to Green Spaces May Help Prevent Cognitive Decline

July 17, 2024 — A new study co-authored by Francine Laden, SD, Jaime Hart, SD, and Peter James, ScD found that exposure to green space during middle-age may improve cognitive function and slow cognitive decline. Dr. Laden is the Associate Chair of Environmental Health, Dr. Hart is an Associate Professor of Environmental Health, and Dr. James is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Environmental Health.

This study is the first to explore the relationship between environmental features and cognition of carriers of the APOE-ɛ4 gene. Those who carry the APOE-ɛ4 gene have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. The study found that APOE-ɛ4 gene carriers who were exposed to green spaces had a three times magnitude of slower cognitive decline compared to those without the gene.

This study also emphasizes the importance of green spaces in low socioeconomic status (SES) neighborhoods and highly populated areas. Increasing green spaces in these areas may help to reduce socioeconomic inequities. “This finding is significant because it is one of the first studies to measure greenspace exposure and cognitive function prospectively in a nationwide study. These findings suggest that increasing exposure to greenspace through, for instance planting trees, might help to slow cognitive decline” says Dr. James.

This research was supported by NIA R00 AG066949; NHLBI R01 HL150119, and NCI UM1 CA186107.

Read the full Boston School of Public Health article here, “Living in Greener Neighborhoods during Midlife May Slow Cognitive Decline”

Read the study here, “Midlife Residential Greenness and Late-Life Cognitive Decline among Nurses’ Health Study Participants”