Cognitive Health and the Margins: Rethinking Access and Equity

At Greendoor, we believe cognitive enhancement and mental well-being shouldn’t be reserved for the privileged. While we focus on nootropics, we also recognize that conversations about brain health must include the people most impacted by structural inequality — including those experiencing chronic homelessness.

Why It Matters

Cognition is shaped by more than biology — it’s shaped by environment. Poor sleep, malnutrition, trauma, and lack of safety all affect brain function. People facing chronic homelessness often experience cognitive decline, executive dysfunction, and mental health challenges at disproportionately high rates.

These aren’t just personal health issues — they’re systemic issues. And they deserve attention in any serious discussion of cognitive wellness.

Cognitive Equity Is Health Equity

As the public conversation around nootropics evolves, it’s vital to ask:

• Who gets to enhance their cognitive performance?
• Who has access to tools, sleep, safety, and mental bandwidth?
• Who gets ignored in “wellness” conversations?

Cognitive enhancement is often framed around productivity, but for many, the real challenge is cognitive survival — just being able to think clearly in unstable, high-stress conditions. At Greendoor, we believe equitable access to mental resources — including education, nutrition, healthcare, and informed decision-making — is the foundation of true enhancement.

Our Role

We don’t provide direct housing or clinical support. But we can:

• Advocate for a broader understanding of brain health that includes socioeconomic context
• Amplify discussions around equitable access to cognitive support tools
• Highlight research on how stress and deprivation impact cognition — and how recovery can look different for everyone

Looking Forward

Cognitive wellness shouldn’t be a luxury. As nootropics and mental performance tools become more widely discussed, we must also expand who gets to be part of that conversation.

Greendoor is committed to keeping the cognitive enhancement space grounded in ethical awareness, accessibility, and social responsibility — not just optimization for the already-advantaged.