A large, peer-reviewed study in Environment International finds that greater access to green spaces before birth and through early childhood is associated with lower risks of neurodevelopmental disorders. Analyzing nearly 1.84 million mother–child pairs, researchers linked higher neighborhood green cover, measured at the ZIP code level, with reduced rates of ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and learning delays. The protective effects persisted after adjusting for socio-economic factors, with stronger benefits seen among urban, Black, and Hispanic families.
As cities expand, Bangkok and other Thai urban areas face shrinking green spaces. The findings offer guidance for public health planning and urban design in Thailand, where authorities increasingly recognize parks and open areas as vital for community well-being. Researchers used satellite data to quantify greenery around homes with the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and tracked outcomes including ADHD, ASD, learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and behavioral disorders. An interquartile rise in NDVI of 0.12 around residences was associated with lower risks across several conditions. Preconception greenery showed the strongest link to reduced intellectual disability risk, prenatal greenery lowered ASD risk, and postnatal greenery decreased learning difficulties.
Experts emphasize that the associations remained after accounting for individual and neighborhood-level socio-economic status. Street-level greenery appeared especially beneficial for urban children and minority groups, suggesting that expanding accessible green spaces could help narrow health disparities. The senior author notes that increasing access to natural spaces is a simple, modifiable environmental strategy to support early brain development.
The study’s implications for Thailand are notable. In central Bangkok, green park space per person falls short of World Health Organization recommendations, underscoring potential gains from urban greening. Other Southeast Asian cities have invested in green corridors and parks, reporting positive public health signals. Thai researchers and policymakers view green space as a driver of healthier communities beyond aesthetics.
Thailand faces evolving child development challenges, including rising awareness and diagnosis of autism, ADHD, and learning difficulties. Experts from leading Thai universities advocate integrating environmental education into curricula and creating “living classrooms” that connect nature with urban and rural schooling. Local authorities are piloting tree planting around schools and pocket parks in dense neighborhoods, signaling practical steps toward more greenery.
Researchers caution that benefits may span multiple exposure windows—preconception, pregnancy, and early childhood—suggesting several biological mechanisms. Potential pathways include reduced maternal stress, improved air quality, and exposure to diverse microbiomes from natural environments. This aligns with broader research linking greener neighborhoods to higher cognitive performance and better emotional regulation.
For Thai families, the takeaway is practical: engage with green spaces at every life stage—before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and in early childhood. Urban planners and health officials should rethink zoning and invest in parks, schoolyards, and community gardens. Collaborations to convert vacant lots into safe, leafy play spaces could help replicate the protective effects observed in the Rutgers-led study, adapted for Bangkok and other Thai cities.
Readers can visit city parks, support local community garden initiatives, and advocate for more green space in neighborhoods and schools. Those planning to conceive may benefit from outdoor time in natural settings as part of a healthy preconception and pregnancy routine. Civil society groups, schools, and local government can work together to expand green areas and outdoor learning environments.
According to research from leading institutions, the study adds to a growing body of evidence on how urban nature supports child development and health.