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Associations between systemic inflammation, neighborhood tree canopy, and white matter hyperintensities: The Healthy Brain Initiative
Lauren Toledo, Lilah M. Besser, Elaine H. Le, Mahesh S. Joshi, James E Galvin. Alzheimer s & Dementia, 2025-12-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Participants were 68.7±9.3 years old; 70% were female; 8% identified as Black, 89% White, as 3% other racial group; and 14% identified as Hispanic. Higher CRP was associated with greater WMH (estimate=0.62, 95% CI=0.12, 1.12). Greater neighborhood % tree canopy was associated with fewer WMH (estimate=-0.12, 95% CI=-0.17, -0.08). Compared to those with higher CRP and lower % tree canopy, those with higher CRP and higher % tree canopy had fewer WMH (estimate=-1.16, 95% CI=-2.12, -0.20). High systemic inflammation and high neighborhood tree canopy were independently associated with greater and lower WMH, respectively. In those with higher systemic inflammation, having greater neighborhood tree canopy was associated with lower WMH volume.
Key findings
- Participants were 68.7±9.3 years old; 70% were female; 8% identified as Black, 89% White, as 3% other racial group; and 14% identified as Hispanic.
- Higher CRP was associated with greater WMH (estimate=0.62, 95% CI=0.12, 1.12).
- Greater neighborhood % tree canopy was associated with fewer WMH (estimate=-0.12, 95% CI=-0.17, -0.08).
- Compared to those with higher CRP and lower % tree canopy, those with higher CRP and higher % tree canopy had fewer WMH (estimate=-1.16, 95% CI=-2.12, -0.20).
- High systemic inflammation and high neighborhood tree canopy were independently associated with greater and lower WMH, respectively.
Why it matters
This study found that higher inflammation was linked to more white matter hyperintensities, and more neighborhood tree canopy was linked to fewer, with tree canopy appearing to offset some of the effect of inflammation. It is cross-sectional and does not test a treatment, cure, or prevention.
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Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Participants161
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 38/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Alzheimer s & Dementia) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Alzheimer s & Dementia: journal h-index 228 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in time |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 161 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 0 / 7 | Cited 0 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 0 / 6 | Cited 0.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 0 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 0 / 4 | Last-listed author James E Galvin: h-index 1 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Miami: institution h-index 998 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41434679) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 38 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1002/alz70860_104126
- PubMed: 41434679
- Original source →
- Free full text: Alzheimer s & Dementia →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Toledo, L., Besser, L. M., Le, E. H., Joshi, M. S., & Galvin, J. E. (2025). Associations between systemic inflammation, neighborhood tree canopy, and white matter hyperintensities: The Healthy Brain Initiative. Alzheimer s & Dementia. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz70860_104126
Vancouver
Toledo L, Besser LM, Le EH, Joshi MS, Galvin JE. Associations between systemic inflammation, neighborhood tree canopy, and white matter hyperintensities: The Healthy Brain Initiative. Alzheimer s & Dementia. 2025. doi:10.1002/alz70860_104126. PMID: 41434679.
BibTeX
@article{toledo2025-41434679,
author = {Toledo, Lauren and Besser, Lilah M. and Le, Elaine H. and Joshi, Mahesh S. and Galvin, James E},
title = {{Associations between systemic inflammation, neighborhood tree canopy, and white matter hyperintensities: The Healthy Brain Initiative}},
journal = {Alzheimer s \& Dementia},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1002/alz70860_104126},
pmid = {41434679},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/alz70860_104126}
}
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