SynthesisAge and ageing2026
A meta-analytical umbrella review assessing urban environment exposures and cognitive health outcomes.
Synthesis in Age and ageing, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- A systematic review of associations between the environment, DNA methylation, and cognition.Environmental epigenetics · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
Abstract
introductionGlobal population ageing is increasing the burden of cognitive decline and dementia. While systematic reviews have examined links between environmental exposures and cognitive outcomes, evidence remains fragmented. This umbrella review aimed to synthesise and meta-analyse systematic reviews on urban environmental exposures and cognitive health.
methodsA meta-analytic umbrella review (PROSPERO: CRD42023425117) was conducted using PubMed, Embase and PsycINFO. Systematic reviews examining urban environments and cognitive health were included. Methodological quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute tool. Meta-analytic evidence was graded ('convincing' to 'not significant') based on sample size, effect strength and bias. Narrative synthesis was also performed.
resultsFrom 6391 records, 54 systematic reviews were included, comprising 66 meta-analysed outcomes and 270 exposure-outcome associations. Air pollution showed the strongest evidence: particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) (10/11 significant outcomes) and nitrogen dioxide/nitrogen oxide (5/10) demonstrated highly probable detrimental effects on cognitive health. Social relationships (5/8) showed probable beneficial effects. Green and blue spaces were associated with reduced dementia risk (3/6). Narrative findings supported these results and identified research gaps, particularly for travel behaviour (no outcomes identified).
conclusionThere is highly probable evidence linking air pollution to poorer cognitive health and probable evidence supporting social relationships. Further research is needed on urban design, noise, light exposure and underexplored pollutants (CO, SO₂). Policies should prioritise reducing air pollution and promoting social engagement to support cognitive health and dementia prevention.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What Socratic holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.