From reducing dementia risk to improving mood and physical health, gardening is proving to be more than just a hobby. Backed by growing research and embraced by care communities across Europe, working with soil, plants, and animals is now being prescribed as a form of healthcare. Whether for prevention or therapy, the benefits are rooted in science — and in the garden.
Care Farms: Nature’s Prescription for Cognitive Decline
Marianne Rogstad, a retired hotel worker from Norway, began to feel isolated after returning home and being diagnosed with dementia. But her life changed when she joined the Impulssenter care farm near Oslo. There, she found a sense of purpose by gardening, feeding animals, and reconnecting with nature three days a week.
The care farm model, officially recognized in Norway under the “Inn på tunet” (Into the Yard) initiative, allows people with dementia to remain socially and mentally active. Co-manager Henreitte Bringsjord, whose parents founded the farm, says the environment fosters agency and memory recall through group tasks and visible results. “They may not remember what they did, but they know it made them feel good,” she says.
Gardening’s Proven Impact on the Brain
Studies show that gardening significantly enhances brain health. In a landmark study from the University of Edinburgh, participants who gardened regularly between childhood and late adulthood showed a greater increase in cognitive ability over their lifetimes than those who didn’t. Lead researcher Janie Corley cited the cognitive demands of gardening — from planning and remembering tasks to problem-solving — as key contributors to these improvements.
This aligns with the “use it or lose it” model of brain aging: mental faculties that aren’t regularly engaged tend to decline, while stimulation through meaningful activities helps preserve or even strengthen them.
How Nature Enhances Mental Health
According to Dr. Melissa Lem, a Vancouver-based physician and researcher in nature-based health, gardening combines the best of physical, social, and environmental wellness. “It reduces stress, improves blood pressure and blood sugar control, and supports healthy weight,” she explains. Even brief interactions with nature — like touching plants, smelling soil, or hearing birdsong — can elevate mood and improve concentration.
Roger Ulrich, a Swedish professor and pioneer in healing environments, found in his early studies that simply looking at trees through a hospital window reduced patients’ pain and stress. Later theories such as Attention Restoration Theory suggest our brains recover better from mental fatigue in natural settings, making gardening especially powerful for cognitive health.
Boosting Brain Chemistry Through the Soil
Gardening also has measurable biological effects. Research shows that gardeners experience elevated levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which supports neuron growth, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which improves circulation and brain function. This combination helps preserve memory and cognitive flexibility well into older age.
One Australian study in 2006 found that seniors who gardened daily had a 36% lower risk of developing dementia. Other studies link gardening to better attention span, fewer falls, reduced medication use, and improved communication in dementia patients.
Physical Benefits Go Beyond the Brain
Gardening is a full-body activity that improves strength, flexibility, and coordination. Lem points to two major studies of U.S. adults: one found that an hour of gardening weekly lowered the risk of cardiac arrest by 66%; another linked gardening to improved bone density. Digging, planting, bending, and lifting all contribute to aerobic conditioning and fine motor skill development, which help maintain independence longer.
Designing a Better Aging Experience
Care farms are now expanding across Europe and the UK to support aging populations. These spaces are intentionally designed to be welcoming and functional for people with cognitive decline, offering routines that promote mental engagement and social interaction.
“It’s nice to be out here in nature. It’s much better than sitting at home,” says Rogstad, who now spends much of her week on the farm tending to animals and planting vegetables.
Bringsjord emphasizes that gardening’s benefits go beyond memory — it’s about quality of life. Even if the tasks are forgotten by day’s end, the sense of accomplishment and joy lingers. That emotional connection, she says, is what really matters.
The Takeaway: Growing Health From the Ground Up
Whether you’re managing dementia, recovering from illness, or simply aiming to age well, gardening offers a powerful tool for long-term wellness. It engages the mind, strengthens the body, and connects us to something greater — the natural world and one another. With programs like care farms and nature prescriptions gaining ground, the garden may soon be as vital as any pill bottle.
