According to a joint study by Stockholm University and Karolinska Institutet, older adults living in urban environments with abundant green space within a 100-meter radius of their homes have a 20% lower risk of developing dementia.
As part of the study published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, researchers followed nearly 3,000 individuals aged 60 and older over a period of 16 years. Satellite image analysis confirmed that the protective effect of green space is strongest in the immediate vicinity of the home (within 100 meters) and diminishes with increasing distance. Notably, this link between greenery and brain health was found to be more pronounced in women.
How Does Nature Protect the Brain?
The researchers attribute the positive impact of natural surroundings to three main factors:
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Psychological restoration: Green environments directly lower stress levels. Previous studies have likewise demonstrated that individuals living in greener neighborhoods experience better sleep quality, lower anxiety, and reduced use of antidepressants.
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Physical and social activity: Parks and green courtyards encourage people to spend time outdoors, walk, and engage in social interaction—all of which are critically important for maintaining cognitive function.
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A protective buffer: Trees and vegetative cover buffer traffic noise, filter air pollution, and mitigate extreme summer heat—key urban stressors that adversely affect the nervous system.
“All of this underscores that the immediate residential environment is one of the key cornerstones of brain health and healthy aging,” explains the study’s lead author, Cecilia Stenfors, Associate Professor of Psychology.
According to Stenfors, urban planning must take brain health into account, and preserving even small green spaces, residential yards, and tree-lined avenues should be regarded as a public health investment.
