Older adults who live surrounded by more greenery may be significantly less likely to develop dementia, according to a new study that tracked nearly 3,000 people over a 16-year period.
Researchers from Sweden's Stockholm University and Karolinska Institute found that people living in areas with more vegetation within 110 yards of their homes had a 20 percent lower risk of developing dementia over time. The findings, published in Alzheimer's & Dementia, suggest that nearby green spaces could play an important role in supporting brain health, mood and cognition as people age.
"The study findings point [to] green space in the immediate surroundings of the home as a factor supporting brain resilience in aging, and the importance of prioritizing these spaces in urban and residential planning," Cecilia Stenfors, the study's first author, associate professor of psychology and research leader at Stockholm University, told Newsweek.
She said greener residential surroundings may support brain health through multiple pathways, including psychological wellbeing, rest and recuperation, encouraging the spending of time outdoors, social interaction and providing protection from environmental stressors such as traffic noise and air pollution.
Tracking Green Space and Dementia Risk
The study included 2,993 adults aged 60 and older who were participating in the population-based Swedish National Study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen (SNAC-K) in Stockholm, Sweden. During the 16-year follow-up period, 477 participants developed dementia.
Researchers measured the amount of vegetation around participants' homes every year using satellite imagery and geographic information systems. They assessed greenery within 110, 275 and 550 yards of each residence while also repeatedly evaluating participants' cognitive health through routine assessments.
The strongest association was found in the area closest to the home. While more greenery at all distances showed some relationship with lower dementia risk, the link was most pronounced within 110 yards and became weaker farther away.
The protective association was also stronger among women.
The researchers also accounted for a wide range of factors that could influence dementia risk, including age, education level, socioeconomic circumstances, lifestyle habits, air pollution, traffic noise, and proximity to water.
Why Nearby Nature Matters
Stenfors said the immediate surroundings of the home are particularly important because they make up part of people's everyday environment.
"In prior studies, we found that green space in the immediate residential surrounding was associated with better sleep, self-reported mental health, and less antidepressant prescription medication purchases," she said.
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"The close surroundings of the home may also be especially important for those who spend more time in and around the home."
The study adds to growing evidence that natural environments can support healthy aging.
Researchers noted that green spaces can encourage people to spend more time outdoors, be physically active and maintain social connections outside the home. Vegetation can also help reduce exposure to environmental hazards such as air pollution, traffic noise and urban heat, providing what Stenfors calls a "buzzer zone."
Stenfors said that increasing urban densification can sometimes come at the expense of green areas in everyday living environments, potentially creating less healthy neighborhoods and making cities more vulnerable to extreme weather as global temperatures rise.
She described vegetation as a "nature-based solution," an all-round win that can support brain health while also benefiting biodiversity, reducing flood risk and providing shade and cooling during heatwaves.
Neurosurgeon Says Findings Match Clinical Experience
Dr. Željko Kojadinović, a consultant neurosurgeon with more than 35 years of clinical experience, said the study's focus on greenery within 110 yards of the home was particularly notable.
"This study's most striking finding is the 110-yard radius: it's the greenery right outside the door, not distant parks, that is associated with about 20 percent lower dementia risk," he told Newsweek.
Kojadinović said daily contact with nature may improve mood and encourage people to walk, stay physically active and interact with others, all of which are known to support brain health. He also suggested that trees, shrubs and grass can act as natural filters, trapping airborne pollution particles that might otherwise be inhaled.
Such pollutants are linked to damage of the brain’s small blood vessels, known as cerebral microangiopathy.
"It is an association, not proof of cause," he said. "But it fits what we see clinically: in older adults dementia is rarely a single disease, and small-vessel damage often contributes alongside Alzheimer-type changes."
Reference
Stenfors, C. U. D., Wu, J., Grande, G., Pyko, A., Löhmus, M., Pershagen, G., Rizzuto, D. (2026). Precision residential greenspace, urban environmental exposures, and incident dementia among older adults in Sweden: A 16-year cohort study. Alzheimer’s & Dementia. 22(10), e71835. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.71835.
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