Exposure to residential greenness may reduce AD risk

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A study in Japanese children has found that early-life exposure to residential "greenness" was associated with a decreased risk of atopic dermatitis. The study authors describe greenness as vegetation such as trees, grass, and other plants, whether in planned areas such as parks and street trees or in unplanned natural regions.

Published in Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, the study evaluated data from 14,932 children in the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study.

Researchers assessed exposure to residential greenness during the first six months of life, quantified using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) within 250-, 500-, and 1000-m buffers around each birth postal code. They categorized the results into tertiles: low [reference], moderate, and high.

Investigators assessed AD incidence between 6 months and 5 years of age via maternal reporting. They then estimated adjusted risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using a modified Poisson regression model. The authors stratified their analyses by urbanization levels, the child's sex, and the parental history of allergic diseases.

Study results showed a significant protective association among children in the high NDVI tertile within the 250-m buffer (adjusted RR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.67–0.95). However, the moderate tertile was not significant (adjusted RR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.83–1.06). A similar pattern was observed at 500 m. Stratification showed similar associations across urbanization levels, which were stronger in boys and observed only among children without a parental history of allergy.

“These findings highlight the potential importance of early-life residential greenness in the prevention of AD,” the authors write in their conclusions. “Findings from this study may support future research in strengthening evidence on the potential health benefits of greenness and contribute to strategies for the early prevention of allergic diseases in children.”

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There is still time to register for the 4th Atopic Dermatitis Summit. The no-cost webinar will be held on May 9, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET.

Chaired by Dr. Marissa Joseph (Toronto), the Summit’s presentations will include practical insights to support clinical decision-making and patient care in atopic dermatitis.

The expert faculty includes Drs. Joseph Lam (Vancouver), Jaggi Rao (Edmonton), and Michele Ramien (Calgary).

The Summit will support physicians to:

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