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Green Environments in Early Childhood Appear to Influence ADHD Risk
Less green space surrounding a child’s home may be associated with a higher risk of developing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a study published online in Environmental Health Perspectives.
“Access to green space has been hypothesized to have a beneficial impact on children’s mental well-being and cognitive development,” researchers wrote. “The underlying mechanisms of the mental health benefits of green space are not fully understood, but different pathways have been suggested, such as the psychologically restoring capacities of green space, the ability to facilitate physical activity and social cohesion, and the mitigation of exposure to air pollution.”
This study, based in Denmark, investigated associations between residential green space in early childhood with an ADHD diagnosis from age 5 on. The nationwide cohort included 814,689 individuals born between 1992 and 2007 who were followed up to 19 years for an ADHD diagnosis.
Childhood ADHD May Increase Risk of Subsequent Psychotic Disorders
Researchers used the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) to categorize an address’ green space. The measurement spanned a quadratic area surrounding a residence with 210 meters on each side.
Individuals with early childhoods in areas with the sparsest green vegetation, or in the lowest NDVI decile, had an increased risk of developing ADHD compared with individuals from areas in the highest NDVI decile, according to the study. While adjusting for confounders such as psychiatric diagnoses in parents as well as family or neighborhood socio-economic levels weakened the result, the association remained.
“This is, to our knowledge, the largest study on this topic so far,” researchers wrote. “In conclusion, our results suggest that higher levels of green space in the residential area during early childhood may be associated with a lower risk of developing ADHD.”
—Jolynn Tumolo
References
Thygesen M, Engemann K, Holst GJ, et al. The association between residential green space in childhood and development of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a population-based cohort study. Environmental Health Perspectives. 2020;128(12):127011.
