If a person lives in an area rich in foliage, their grass may indeed be greener, at least when it comes to risk of developing Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s diseases. That is according to a large study led by Jochem Klompmaker, Jaime Hart, and Peter James at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston. In the December 20 JAMA Network Open, they reported that, across the contiguous U.S., people living in towns with lots of green space were least likely to have either neurodegenerative disease. This correlation was strongest in those over 85 and in blacks. The authors think protection may partly stem from less pollution in greener areas.

Can Living in Greener Pastures Cut Risk for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s? – ALZFORUM