Why walking in nature could benefit ageing brains more than we thought

New studies show how much nature walks can help dementia patients and their carers, and may also lower the risk of developing the disease

Anthea Rowanin Nairobi

a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope.

My mother and I often walked together during the time I cared for her, around the garden or in the fields beyond it. Sometimes she resisted, complaining she was too tired or inventing some small ailment as an excuse not to get up and get out (“My legs are sore”). But once outside she always responded, and she always returned to the house in a better mood.

Our walks were slow and gentle. She immersed herself in the here and now, noticing the birds, the wind blowing through the trees, the clouds. Sometimes she would pick a flower or stop to examine a leaf or an insect. Her observations could seem repetitive, but that didn’t matter; her enjoyment was evident.

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