Exploring the role of residential surrounding greenness in global and domain-specific cognitive function among community-dwelling mature and older adults from Southern Italy

Objectives: Recent evidence suggests residential surrounding greenness may benefit cognitive functioning. Although benefits have been widely studied in children and young adults, research involving mature and older adults, especially studies using objective greenness measures and comprehensive cognitive assessments, remains limited and shows mixed results. This study examines the effect of residential surrounding greenness on global and domain-specific cognition (memory, attention, language, executive functions) in community-dwelling mature and older adults. Also, moderating factors (age, gender, and education) are investigated. Method: Satellite-based Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was measured at 100, 300, and 500 m buffers around residences, considering short-term (1-year) and long-term (20-year) exposure. Cognitive functioning was assessed using standardized neuropsychological tests. Linear and moderated regression models tested hypotheses. Results: Findings reveal differentiated effects of residential greenness on cognition. Short- and long-term exposure were positively associated with language performance in subgroups, such as older participants and those with lower schooling. Conversely, greenness exposure was negatively associated with memory, particularly in males. Conclusion: These findings highlight the complex relationship between residential greenness and cognition. Effects vary across cognitive domains and socioeconomic factors, underscoring the need for further investigation of mechanisms linking greenness exposure to cognitive functioning in aging populations.