DST News: Birdwatching may help maintain brain health, support memory and improve emotional wellbeing in older adults, with emerging research suggesting that the activity could help protect against age-related cognitive decline.

Researchers have found that experienced birdwatchers show differences in brain organisation and activity compared with beginners. Meanwhile, care programmes in the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States are increasingly using birdwatching to help people living with dementia and other cognitive difficulties.

At Forge Mill Lake in England’s West Midlands, a group of older birdwatchers gathers every week to observe birds through binoculars and share their discoveries. Although some participants struggle to remember recent events or follow conversations, their enthusiasm becomes evident when they spot birds in the surrounding landscape.

Among them is 78-year-old Harold, whose dementia had made him increasingly withdrawn and anxious. His daughter, Lucy, brought him to the group in the hope that spending time in nature would improve his mood.

Initially hesitant, Harold gradually began smiling as he watched robins and ducks. When blue tits flew between nearby trees, he laughed for the first time in a long while.

“For that moment in time he was present in the moment, he wasn’t worried about his memory or his confidence,” said Jenny Budinger, a community dementia adviser at Age UK, which runs the birdwatching group.

Birdwatching and Brain Health

Research led by Erik Wing at Baycrest Academy for Research and Education in Toronto, Canada, suggests that birdwatching expertise may be associated with changes in the brain.

In the study, neuroscientists compared brain scans of experienced birdwatchers with those of novices while the participants identified different bird species.

The researchers found differences in brain regions associated with attention, visual perception and recognition. Experienced birdwatchers also showed greater activity in these areas, particularly when identifying unfamiliar birds.

The findings suggest that birdwatching may engage neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to adapt its structure and function in response to experience.

Researchers also examined how well-organised different regions of the brain were. Brain organisation tends to decline with age, and lower levels of organisation have been associated with reduced cognitive performance.

Some brain regions in experienced birdwatchers showed greater organisation and coherence than those of beginners of the same age. Several of these regions were also more active during bird identification tasks.

Wing said the findings could indicate that developing birdwatching skills helps preserve aspects of brain organisation as people grow older. However, further research is needed to establish whether these differences directly contribute to better cognitive health.

The results also suggest that learning new skills earlier in life may provide benefits that continue into older age.

Benefits Beyond Bird Identification

Birdwatching may offer psychological benefits even to people without extensive knowledge of birds.

A study involving 388 birdwatchers in Poland found that people who were particularly enthusiastic about birdwatching and considered it an important part of their lives were more likely to experience psychological restoration, including feelings of calm, freedom and rejuvenation.

The findings suggest that personal interest and engagement may be just as important as technical expertise in determining the activity’s psychological benefits.

Elisabeth Kals, a professor of social and organisational psychology at Germany’s Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, has investigated the effects of birdwatching among nursing home residents.

Her research team installed bird feeders outside 65 care homes, allowing residents to observe birds from indoor communal areas. The researchers then assessed participants’ cognition, mobility and wellbeing using information from residents, care staff and family members.

Improvements were observed within weeks. After a month, birdwatching was a stronger indicator of residents’ wellbeing than their age or level of care, according to the study.

Participants reportedly became more attentive, found it easier to follow conversations and interact with visiting relatives, and increasingly recognised birds that had appeared before.

Care staff also noticed improvements in residents’ mood, including smiles among people who had previously appeared withdrawn.

Some improvements in memory and concentration were reported after just three to four weeks.

Following the encouraging findings, German health insurance companies supported the installation of bird feeders and viewing areas in more than 400 nursing homes across Bavaria.

Birdwatching as Therapy for Dementia and Stroke

Similar initiatives have been introduced in the United States to support people living with dementia.

The Bird Tales programme, launched at four care communities in Connecticut in 2013 and later expanded to Texas and Colorado, uses bird feeders and realistic stuffed birds that produce bird-like calls. The programme aims to stimulate cognition and help participants reconnect with memories from their past.

Birdwatching has also been incorporated into rehabilitation for stroke survivors experiencing aphasia, a condition that can affect speaking and understanding language.

The University of Montana’s Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program introduced owl spotting in 2021 and subsequently expanded its activities to include guided bird observation and identifying bird calls.

These programmes demonstrate how observing wildlife can provide opportunities for learning, communication and social interaction for people facing cognitive and language difficulties.

Why Watching Birds May Help

Researchers believe birdwatching combines several elements that support mental wellbeing: attention, curiosity, emotional engagement, physical activity and social connection.

Observing birds encourages people to notice unfamiliar details, recognise patterns and anticipate what might happen next. These activities may stimulate mental processes that are important for maintaining cognitive function.

Curiosity may also play a role in healthy ageing. Researchers suggest that engaging with new experiences activates brain chemicals such as dopamine and norepinephrine, which are involved in attention, motivation and learning.

However, the precise mechanisms linking birdwatching to long-term cognitive health remain under investigation.

Birdwatching is also relatively accessible. People do not necessarily need to travel to nature reserves or walk long distances to participate. Watching birds through a window or observing them at a feeding station can provide opportunities for engagement.

In a UK survey of people living with dementia and their carers, watching birds and other wildlife was the second most popular outdoor activity after walking in nature. The survey also highlighted transport and accessibility as important barriers for people with dementia.

A Simple Way to Reconnect With Nature

Wing believes that curiosity and exposure to new experiences may be particularly valuable as people age. Developing an interest in birds can provide an opportunity to keep learning and engaging with the world.

For Kals, the benefits extend beyond cognitive stimulation. Birdwatching can reconnect people with nature, create opportunities for social interaction and bring moments of pleasure into everyday life.

The growing interest in birdwatching as a therapeutic activity suggests that even simple encounters with wildlife may support wellbeing among older adults.

Although further research is needed to determine whether birdwatching can directly slow cognitive decline, existing findings point to potential benefits for attention, memory, emotional health and social engagement.

For older adults and people living with dementia, taking time to watch birds may offer a simple, accessible way to remain curious, connected and mentally active.

Source: BBC