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Gardening linked to long-term cognitive benefits
Recent research highlights how gardening preserves mental sharpness and may lower dementia risks. A groundbreaking study from the University of Edinburgh found that individuals who gardened regularly demonstrated greater lifetime improvements in cognitive function compared to those who rarely engaged in the activity.
How gardening protects the brain
Janie Corley, the study's lead researcher, explained that gardening involves complex cognitive processes such as memory and executive function. These activities align with the "use it or lose it" theory, which suggests that regularly challenging the brain helps maintain its functionality in later life.
Additional studies support these findings. A 2002 U.S. study of over 800 nuns revealed that frequent participation in mentally stimulating activities reduced Alzheimer's risk. Similarly, research in Japan linked meaningful activities to protection against memory decline. Other benefits of gardening include improved attention, reduced stress, fewer falls, and decreased reliance on medication.
Biologically, gardening appears to boost levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein critical for neuron growth and survival. It also increases vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which enhances cognitive function. A 2006 Australian study found that daily gardening reduced dementia risk by 36% among participants in their sixties.
Nature's role in mental well-being
Roger Ulrich, a professor of architecture at Chalmers University in Sweden, pioneered research on nature's stress-reducing effects. His studies in the 1980s and 1990s demonstrated that even viewing trees or plants through a window could alleviate pain, elevate mood, and sharpen concentration. Ulrich theorized that humans evolved to recover from stress more effectively in natural settings, a trait passed down through generations.
Melissa Lem, a family physician and researcher at the University of British Columbia, emphasized nature's multifaceted benefits. "Nature prescriptions can increase physical activity, foster social connections, and lower stress-all of which improve blood pressure, blood sugar control, and weight management," she said. Lem also noted that nature enhances focus, citing Attention Restoration Theory, which posits that natural environments counteract mental fatigue from urban living.
Care farms: A prescription for dementia patients
Norway became a pioneer in integrating gardening into dementia care with its 2015 national plan, which includes "care farms" like Inn på tunet ("into the yard"). These programs offer structured, nature-based activities to improve cognitive function and social engagement.
Marianne Rogstad, a retired hotel clerk from Norway, experienced these benefits firsthand after her dementia diagnosis. Once isolated, she now spends three days a week at Impulssenter, a care farm outside Oslo, where she tends to vegetables, feeds cows, and cares for chickens. "It's nice to be out here in nature. It's much better than sitting at home," she said.
Henreitte Bringsjord, who co-manages the farm, explained that gardening provides a sense of purpose. "People love it because they can see the results of their work," she said. The social aspect of group activities also helps those with memory loss follow along and regain confidence.
Global adoption of green prescriptions
Care farms are expanding across Europe and the UK, offering dementia patients opportunities to engage in meaningful, low-stress activities. Bringsjord emphasized that beyond cognitive benefits, these programs create joyful environments. "They might not remember what they did, but they know they had a good day," she said.
Lem's work in Canada further underscores the potential of nature-based prescriptions. She recently piloted a program with an art institution, demonstrating how even brief exposure to nature-through images, sounds, or scents-can significantly improve health outcomes.
"Gardening supercharges the benefits of physical activity and social connection," Lem said. "It's a powerful tool for preventing cognitive decline."
Melissa Lem, University of British Columbia
Simple steps for lifelong health
Experts suggest that small, consistent activities-like gardening for even a few minutes daily-can yield substantial long-term benefits. These include improved mobility, hand dexterity, and aerobic endurance, as well as reduced risks of cardiac arrest and bone density loss.
For Rogstad and others like her, care farms offer more than just cognitive stimulation. They provide a chance to reconnect with life, one plant at a time.
