Gerontology · Oct 21, 2026

Greenspace Exposure During Everyday Mobility and Working Memory in Older Adults: Momentary Benefits Amid Stressors

By Luo M, Han C, Cui X et al.

INTRODUCTION: While residential greenspace has been linked to better cognitive function in older adults, it remains unclear whether short-term greenspace exposure during everyday mobility can provide immediate cognitive benefits. Stress may play a critical role in this process, as it reflects a mismatch between environmental demands and personal resources and may signal an increased need for restoration. METHODS: This ambulatory assessment study examined the association between greenspace exposure and cognition in daily life, as well as the moderating role of stress. Over a two-week period, 123 older adults (aged 65-89 years) wore a GPS device that continuously recorded their mobility trajectories and carried a smartphone to complete repeated working memory tasks and experience sampling assessments of stressors approximately every two hours (seven times per day). RESULTS: Multilevel models showed that, at the within-person level, greater-than-usual greenspace exposure in the past two hours was associated with higher-than-usual momentary working memory performance when stressor occurrence was reported, compared to moments when stressors were not reported. At the between-person level, individuals with higher overall greenspace exposure showed better working memory performance. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the cognitive benefits of greenspace exposure are context-dependent, emerging when stressors were recently present and when the need for restoration may be high. More broadly, our findings point to a dynamic, needs-based process in which everyday mobility through natural environments may support cognitive health among older adults.

doi.org/10.1159/ger/acxag009Open accessPubMed 42905620Populations