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Associations between greenspace and memory: Evidence from the COMPASS cohort in Chicago
Wenyan Xu1, Andrew Craver2, Jiajun Luo3
1Institute for Population and Precision Health, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Family Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Environmental Research
|April 25, 2026
Summary
Exposure to neighborhood greenspace, like grass and shrubs, is linked to better memory performance, especially for minority groups. This suggests increasing green areas could help reduce cognitive health disparities.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Cognitive Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Growing evidence links greenspace exposure to improved cognitive health.
- The specific relationship between residential greenspace and memory, particularly in minority populations, remains under-explored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between residential greenspace and memory performance in a predominantly minority cohort.
- To investigate how greenspace quantity and type influence memory in diverse sociodemographic groups.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 4,048 adults in the Chicago Multiethnic Prevention and Surveillance Study (COMPASS) cohort (2013-2018).
- Quantification of greenspace using satellite imagery (NDVI, grass/shrub cover, tree canopy) within 1000m buffers.
- Inclusion of street connectivity and integration to assess greenspace accessibility, with adjustments for sociodemographic factors.
Main Results:
- Both overall greenness (NDVI) and grass/shrub cover were positively associated with memory performance (OR=1.14-1.18).
- Tree canopy showed no significant association with memory.
- Associations were stronger for grass/shrub cover among males and lower-educated individuals, and for NDVI among females and higher-educated individuals. Both greenspace indicators showed stronger effects in non-Hispanic Black, single, and lower-income participants.
Conclusions:
- The quantity and type of greenspace significantly contribute to cognitive benefits, particularly memory.
- Findings highlight the potential of neighborhood greenspace enhancement as a strategy to mitigate cognitive health disparities among racial and socioeconomic minorities.
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