Greenspace and Late-Life Cognitive Decline

Minding Memory

In this episode Matt and Lauren will speak with Dr. Marcia Pescador Jimenez, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at Boston University whose research focuses on understanding the relationship between exposure to green space and health outcomes (including hypertension and cognitive measures). Emerging research has shown that midlife risk factors may delay or even prevent the onset of dementia later in life - among these include physical activity and social interaction. It’s not a stretch to imagine how a person’s environment may impact behaviors such as physical activity. For instance, there are places that lack sidewalks and parks that make exercising exceedingly difficult. Among environmental epidemiologists, there is growing interest in understanding how the built and natural environment influence our behaviors that, in turn, influence our health.

We encourage you to listen to this episode while on a walk outside!

Dr. Marcia Pescador Jimenez Faculty Profile

Article Referenced in Podcast:

Pescador Jimenez M, Wagner M, Laden F, Hart JE, Grodstein F, James P. Midlife Residential Greenness and Late-Life Cognitive Decline among Nurses' Health Study Participants. Environ Health Perspect. 2024 Jul;132(7):77003. doi: 10.1289/EHP13588. Epub 2024 Jul 17. PMID: 39016600; PMCID: PMC11253812.

Nurses’ Health Study

The social engagement scale that was referenced in the podcast is called the “Berkman-Syme Social Network Index”

The transcript for this episode can be found here.

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