Gardening keeps the brain healthy in old age, groundbreaking new study by Edinburgh University shows

It’s a hobby concerned in nurturing growth and keeping often decades-old shrubs in the best of health.

Now a new study has shown that gardening can help keep the brain healthy in old age.

Groundbreaking research by Edinburgh University psychologists kept track of hundreds of Scots and their lifestyles across nearly a whole century.

And it’s found that time spent gardening may protect against the modern curse of dementia up to the age of 80, regardless of wealth and education.

The paper – published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology – concludes: ‘The mentally stimulating nature of gardening, as yet relatively unexplored, might contribute to brain reserve even in older age.

‘These results identify a promising new line of inquiry for understanding the lifestyle factors that may promote successful cognitive ageing.’

Alzheimer Scotland described the findings as ‘encouraging’.

Gillian Councill, the charity’s executive lead on brain health and innovation, said: ‘People often don’t realise the wide range of benefits gardening can bring.

‘Digging, planting and pulling weeds will increase hand strength, which research has shown can boost brain health.

‘Growing your own food can help you eat a healthier diet; another key factor.

‘And staying connected to other people is beneficial for brain health, so community allotments are a great place to socialise, reducing loneliness and isolation.’

The research team gathered data as part of a long-term survey of brain function called the Lothian Birth Cohorts.

Children born in and around Edinburgh in 1921 sat an intelligence test when aged eleven to measure their reasoning and arithmetic ability.

Hundreds of them were then traced in later life at the turn of the century and took the exact same quiz when 79.

They also gave details of their lifestyles and completed frequent assessments of their brain health up to the age of 90.

Of the 467 people tested, almost 30 per cent had never gardened in their lives, but 44 per cent still did regularly, even into old age.

The results showed a clear divide.

On average, the 280 who frequently or sometimes gardened had better cognitive ability as pensioners than they did aged eleven.

But the 187 who had never gardened or rarely did so typically had a lower test score than when they were children.

Dementia is when the brain incurably degenerates to the point where it struggles to remember, concentrate and solve problems.

It now affects nearly 100,000 Scots and are responsible for 13 per cent of all deaths.

The risk of developing the disease is raised by unhealthy lifestyles, but keeping the brain active and getting sufficient sleep are believed to help stave it off.

Dr Janie Corley, lead author of the study, said ‘the relationship between gardening and healthy cognitive ageing has largely been overlooked’.

She added: ‘Engaging in gardening projects, learning about plants, and general garden upkeep, involve complex cognitive processes such as memory and executive function.

‘Consistent with the ‘use it or lose it’ framework of cognitive function, more engagement in gardening may be directly associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline.’

Denis Barrett, 76, spends around 30 hours a week at his plot at the Budhill & Springboig Allotments in the east end of Glasgow.

The retired car part sales executive said: ‘After a stressful career, I’m out in the fresh air. I feel more relaxed; I sleep well, eat well and feel great.

‘But I can see why gardening keeps the brain active too. You have to have a plan and you take that plan home with you. I’ve got seeds on the go already for next year.

‘And you learn something new every day.’

He added: ‘There is nothing like the taste of something that’s just come straight off the tree or out of the ground. It’s like food used to be.’

■ Click here to visit the Scotland home page for the latest news and sport