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Access to green spaces may be linked to lower risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children
Last reviewed: 27.07.2025
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Living near green spaces before and during pregnancy and early childhood is associated with a reduced risk of neurodevelopmental disorders, according to a study by Rutgers Health researchers.
A study published in the journal Environment International examined how exposure to green spaces during critical periods of early childhood development impacts the risk of neurodevelopmental conditions, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental delays.
Scientists have noted that the impact of natural environments on neurodevelopment, especially among socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, has been understudied. The new study sought to fill this gap and explore how green spaces can help reduce differences in neurodevelopmental outcomes among disadvantaged groups.
"Our findings suggest that increasing access to green spaces in urban settings can support neurodevelopment in early childhood and help reduce the burden of developmental delays," said Stefania Papatorou, an associate professor at the Rutgers University School of Public Health and senior author of the study.
The researchers analyzed demographic data and neurodevelopmental disorder diagnoses from the Medicaid Analytic Extract database from 2001 to 2014. Green space exposure was measured using satellite imagery to assess vegetation levels near mothers' zip codes during preconception, pregnancy, and early childhood.
The study included more than 1.8 million racially and socioeconomically diverse mother-child pairs enrolled in Medicaid in several states. The analysis found that higher levels of exposure to green spaces were associated with a lower risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children.
"The associations found persisted even after adjusting for individual and regional confounders, and the results were robust across multiple sensitive analyses," Papatorou said.
The scientists also noted that the effects of green spaces on neurodevelopment may vary depending on the timing of exposure.
“We observed protective associations between living in green areas and several neurodevelopmental outcomes across different time windows – before conception, during pregnancy and early childhood – suggesting that different biological mechanisms are involved,” Papatorou explained.
Exposure to green spaces during pregnancy was associated with a lower risk of autism spectrum disorder, and preconception exposure was inversely associated with the risk of intellectual disability. Exposure to green spaces in early childhood had a protective effect against learning disabilities. Furthermore, these protective effects were found to be strongest among children living in urban areas and among black and Hispanic children.
“The associations were stronger in children living in urban areas, suggesting that green space may have greater potential benefits in areas where it is least available,” Papatodorou added. “Our findings suggest that increasing access to green space in cities may support early childhood neurodevelopment and help reduce the prevalence of developmental delays.”
The study findings highlight the need for public health measures to increase access to green spaces for pregnant women and young children living in vulnerable areas.
“These findings suggest that increasing access to green space may be a potentially modifiable environmental strategy to reduce the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children, particularly in low-income communities,” Papatorou said. “It also suggests that urban planning strategies that target greening of residential areas may have long-term positive effects on children’s development.”
The researchers noted that future research plans will examine the biological and environmental mechanisms that may explain the link between green spaces and neurodevelopment, as well as look at long-term cognitive and behavioral effects through adolescence. Another avenue of research will be to examine how exposure to different types of green spaces — such as parks, trails, and sports fields — may be associated with neurodevelopment.