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It takes a village Professor Brian Lawlor and Dr Eoin Cotter, from the Global Brain Health Institute at Trinity, examine how community-focused housing can enhance cognitive, emotional, and social well-being
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B rain health is not simply the absence of brain disease: it’s about the optimum state and connection. It allows you to develop and grow. Seeing housing from the angle of brain health and appreciating the of brain function across importance of housing and multiple dimensions community in promoting including cognitive, brain development and emotional and social well-being is science and functioning. Our brain’s evidence-based. From development is strongly inclusive design principles, influenced by the social The Brain Health Village in Rathcoran, Baltinglass, County Wicklow taking into consideration and physical environment, issues related to physical, the surroundings and the conditions we live in. These sensory and cognitive disabilities, to creating the right same social determinants impact brain health and the risk social infrastructure, access to open spaces, social of dementia. We know from animal studies that a more connection, exercise, creative practice and culture and enriched and stimulating environment increases brain the adoption of healthy lifestyles, this novel and science- connections, called neuroplasticity, and the same is likely based approach reduces risks to the brain, promotes true for humans. brain health and cultivates more inclusive and sustainable Lack of housing stability across the life course impacts the communities. brain’s development through stress, adverse childhood Based on these principles, Respond, Ireland’s largest experiences, and poor educational opportunities. In approved housing body and the Global Brain Health adolescence, a critical time for brain development, Institute (GBHI) at Trinity, are collaborating to develop housing inequity disrupts social relationships and the field of ‘brain health and housing’. Since 2022, mental maturation and increases exposure to adverse we have engaged in a pilot project to develop a brain experiences. In adulthood, housing inequity increases health supportive community in the Rathcoran Estate in stress, poor mental health, and depression, fuelling Baltinglass County Wicklow – the ‘brain health village’ negative lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol and (BHV) project which will define and create best practices lack of exercise, all of which impact our brain health and and apply them to a housing and community setting. increase the risk of dementia and cognitive decline later in life. Interestingly, residential green space has positive effects on brain function and cognition whereas pollution and poor access to green space have negative impacts on mental health and cognition. This project has developed a conceptual framework for building a brain health-supportive community, comprising six pillars; life course approach for brain health and well- being; stakeholder mapping, engagement and influencing; equity and security values; promoting an intergenerational These factors can be invisible, particularly to policymakers community; facilitating creativity, built and natural who are focused more on the visible consequences environment; and service availability and integration of housing instability and inequity in housing, ie – and this framework is being implemented in a co- homelessness. Homelessness should not be viewed as developed approach with residents and other community simply the end stage of the housing inequity process stakeholders in Rathcoran. – individuals in homelessness have often experienced trauma and instability from an early age – and for this reason, we need to focus much further upstream to deal with the root causes of homelessness and prevent it. This is where social housing stakeholders come in. Housing must come first so that the person has a place of safety and security for the brain to develop and flourish. It is envisaged that the project will be a ‘pathfinder’ to establish proof of concept for the model, creating best practice replicable in other settings and informing Respond’s work in Ireland. Through GBHI’s global network of Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health and collaborators, the BHV will also have a much wider impact, as learnings from this pilot are adapted across diverse Successful affordable or social housing is more than communities around the world. The initiative won the providing the right building design and infrastructure: 2024 Chartered Institute of Housing Award for Excellence It’s about creating homes and communities. A home is in Health and Wellbeing. where you live: your home provides comfort, shelter, safety, and security, and a sense of community, identity, Click here to find out more
