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Greenspace exposure

Greenspace exposure has been studied in 7 papers since 2022: 5 observational studies in people, 2 reviews; 4 in the past year. The newest story, Nov 12, 2026: “Greener areas linked to lower risk of high blood pressure”.

Exposure

7 papers study it12 findingsUpdated

2 new papers in 30 daysSee all 7 papers on greenspace exposure

At a glance

The findings reach people, from one lab or study. 7 independent labs in 4 countries.

“Living in greener areas was significantly associated with a lower risk of hypertension and lower blood pressure levels.”
Greenspace Exposure Reduces the Risk of Hypertension: A Large Prospective Cohort Study in Northwestern ChinaJournal of the American Heart Association2026doi:10.1161/jaha.126.052313

None of its findings points the other way.

Humans: a single group. Cells, worms or flies and mice: nothing yet.

C, W, M, H: cells, worms or flies, mice, humans. Dark: independent labs found the same change there. Light: one lab or one study. Outline: nothing yet.

Labs are independent when their papers share no last author and no institution.

  • 7 independent labs in 4 countries
  • Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China and others
  • Humans5

What is greenspace exposure linked with?

12

Studies link greenspace exposure with 12 measures, among them blood pressure, incident hypertension and working memory performance.

Blood pressure

downin humans1

1 study

  1. Greenspace exposure is associated with blood pressure in humans.

    “Living in greener areas was significantly associated with a lower risk of hypertension and lower blood pressure levels.”

    Humansmedian 3.21-year follow-upn = 5,484,119

    Greener areas linked to lower risk of high blood pressure

    Journal of the American Heart Association

Incident hypertension

downin humans1HR 0.871

1 study

  1. Greenspace exposure is associated with incident hypertension in humans (Adjusted models) (Fourth versus first quartile: NDVI HR 0.871 (95% CI 0.861–0.881); EVI HR 0.896 (95% CI 0.885–0.906)).

    “Living in greener areas was significantly associated with a lower risk of hypertension and lower blood pressure levels.”

    HumansAdjusted modelsFourth versus first quartile of vegetation indices within a 500-m buffermedian 3.21-year follow-upn = 5,484,119

    Greener areas linked to lower risk of high blood pressure

    Journal of the American Heart Association

More on Incident hypertension

Working memory performance

upin humans1

1 study

  1. Greenspace exposure is associated with working memory performance in humans (between-person association).

    “At the between-person level, individuals with higher overall greenspace exposure showed better working memory performance.”

    Humansbetween-person associationtwo weeksn = 123

    Greenspace Exposure During Everyday Mobility and Working Memory in Older Adults: Momentary Benefits Amid Stressors

    Gerontology

Differentially methylated regions in neurodevelopment, immune regulation, stress response and ECM remodeling genes

mixedin humans1

1 study

  1. Greenspace exposure is associated with differentially methylated regions in neurodevelopment, immune regulation, stress response and ECM remodeling genes in humans.

    “greenspace-associated differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were consistently enriched in genes involved in neurodevelopment”

    Review

    Greenspace Exposure and DNA Methylation Age Acceleration: A Systematic Review and Molecular Pathway Analysis

    International journal of molecular sciences

More on Differentially methylated regions in neurodevelopment, immune regulation, stress response and ECM remodeling genes

GrimAge

downin humans1

1 study

  1. Greenspace exposure is associated with GrimAge in humans (1.0 to 1.6 years per interquartile range increase in greenness).

    “Higher levels of greenspace exposure were consistently associated with a deceleration of GrimAge acceleration”

    Reviewper interquartile range increase in greenness

    Greenspace Exposure and DNA Methylation Age Acceleration: A Systematic Review and Molecular Pathway Analysis

    International journal of molecular sciences

More on GrimAge

Conjunctiva disorders

upin humans1HR 1.129

1 study

  1. Greenspace exposure is associated with conjunctiva disorders in humans (First versus third quartile: HR 1.129, 95% CI 1.027–1.241).

    “and (b) conjunctiva disorders (first quartile versus third quartile, HR: 1.129 [95% CI: 1.027 to 1.241]).”

    HumansFirst quartile versus third quartile of GS%n = 241,576

    Greenspace Exposure and the Incidence of Ocular and Adnexal Diseases: Novel Findings from a Large Prospective Cohort Study

    Health data science

More on Conjunctiva disorders

Eyelid, lacrimal system, and orbit disorders

upin humans1HR 1.082

1 study

  1. Greenspace exposure is associated with eyelid, lacrimal system, and orbit disorders in humans (HR 1.082, 95% CI 1.018–1.150).

    “detrimental associations were found for (a) eyelid, lacrimal system, and orbit disorders (HR: 1.082 [95% CI: 1.018 to 1.150])”

    HumansHighest versus lowest quartile of GS% within a 300-m buffern = 241,576

    Greenspace Exposure and the Incidence of Ocular and Adnexal Diseases: Novel Findings from a Large Prospective Cohort Study

    Health data science

More on Eyelid, lacrimal system, and orbit disorders

Choroid and retina disorders

downin humans1HR 0.935

1 study

  1. Greenspace exposure is associated with choroid and retina disorders in humans (HR 0.935, 95% CI 0.874–1.000).

    “and (b) choroid and retina disorders (HR: 0.935 [95% CI: 0.874 to 1.000]).”

    HumansHighest versus lowest quartile of GS% within a 300-m buffern = 241,576

    Greenspace Exposure and the Incidence of Ocular and Adnexal Diseases: Novel Findings from a Large Prospective Cohort Study

    Health data science

More on Choroid and retina disorders

Lens disorders

downin humans1HR 0.931

1 study

  1. Greenspace exposure is associated with lens disorders in humans (HR 0.931, 95% CI 0.896–0.968).

    “beneficial associations were observed for (a) lens disorders [hazard ratio (HR): 0.931 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.896 to 0.968]]”

    HumansHighest versus lowest quartile of GS% within a 300-m buffern = 241,576

    Greenspace Exposure and the Incidence of Ocular and Adnexal Diseases: Novel Findings from a Large Prospective Cohort Study

    Health data science

More on Lens disorders

Life expectancy

upin humans1

1 study

  1. Greenspace exposure is associated with life expectancy in humans.

    “elderly individuals with higher greenspace exposure were associated with an increased life expectancy”

    Humans

    Greenspace exposure may increase life expectancy of elderly adults, especially for those with low socioeconomic status

    Health & place

All 12

Latest

Dec 2025: 0Jan 2026: 0Feb 2026: 0Mar 2026: 1Apr 2026: 0May 2026: 0Jun 2026: 0Jul 2026: 1Aug 2026: 0Sep 2026: 0Oct 2026: 1Nov 2026: 14 papers in 12 months
Journal of the American Heart Association

Greener areas linked to lower risk of high blood pressure

For one greenness measure, the relative risk of developing high blood pressure was lower in the greenest versus least green quarter of neighborhoods (hazard ratio 0.871).For one greenness measure, the relative risk of developing high blood pressure was lower in the greenest versus least green quarter of neighborhoods (hazard ratio 0.871).

Cohort · 5,484,119 peopleHypertension
Paper

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